Otago Daily Times News Feed

Rachel’s Studio of Dance hosted the Southland Festival of Dance on Saturday.

Applications for Otago Regional Council’s annual Eco Fund has been three times oversubscribed again.

Farmers are being encouraged to attend workshops about the National Animal Identification and Tracing (Nait) programme in Southland.

PHOTO: PIP STANDISH Rabobank agribusiness manager Mark Hunter leads the Ballance Farm Environment Awards regional supreme winners open day last week.

Matakanui Station owner Andrew Paterson. Photo: Shawn McAvinue/file The number of dams across Otago that could need a new "potential impact classification" shows how sensible recent changes to dam safety regulations were, an Otago sheep and beef farmer says.

PHOTO: TERRI ANDERSON AgResearch scientist Shannon Clarke talks about the South Island Genomic Calibration flock at a field day on Pamu’s Duncraigen Farm in Te Anau last week.

Retiring Silver Fern Farms Co-operative chairman Rob Hewett will continue as an appointed director in the short term to help with the transition. PHOTO: SHAWN MCAVINUE "One very interesting ride" is how Rob Hewett describes his lengthy tenure on the board of Silver Fern Farms.

At a Perendale Sheep Society of New Zealand annual conference tour stop at the Kamahi Perendale stud in Mimihau are (from left) southern ward life member Robert Gardyne, of Alexandra, councillor and Kamahi owner Warren Ayers and president Seamus Sullivan, of Diamond Peak. PHOTOS: SHAWN MCAVINUE Perendale sheep have a proud history of being able to handle pressure when the going gets tough, southern enthusiasts of the breed say.

Southern sheep and beef farmers (from left) Matt McRae, Hannah Blakely and Nigel Woodhead shared their misery index results at a field day on Barr Falls Farm in Owaka last week. PHOTO: SHAWN MCAVINUE Making a living from sheep and beef farming has never been harder and many farmers are in a "misery locker", Beef + Lamb New Zealand South Island lead extension manager Hannah Blakely says.

Sheep and beef farmer Graham and Rhys Evans and their two-tooth ewe flock on their property Barr Falls Farm in the Catlins. PHOTOS: SHAWN MCAVINUE Sheep and beef farmers Graham and Rhys Evans hosted a field day on their family farm in Owaka last week.

The Barrett family including (from left) Liam, 14, Phil, Jacquelyn, 12, and Lynelle (nee Martin), are about to be honoured at the New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards. PHOTO: SHAWN MCAVINUE A Catlins family is preparing to celebrate the hard work and perseverance of past and present generations who overcame adversity to remain farming the same block of land since 1893.

Katrina and Fergus Templeton, of Twin Rivers Charolais, pictured with their three daughters (from left) Anna, Libby and Emma, are seeing an increase in demand for the exotic cattle breed. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Charolais bull breeders Fergus and Katrina Templeton do not mind their phones ringing more often these days as an increasing number of beef and dairy farmers are seeing the positives of using a Charolais breed in their farming system.

George St, Dunedin, Saturday, May 11

Luggate, Sunday, May 12

South Otago High School, Balclutha, Friday, May 10

Inch Bar, Dunedin, Friday, May 10

(From left) Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown watch Regional Development Minister Shane Jones in full flight. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES The Fast-track Approvals Bill raises serious concerns, Noel O’Malley writes.

Michael Cohen, once one of Donald Trump's most loyal lieutenants, is now the prosecution's star witness. Photo: Getty Images Donald Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen told jurors the Republican presidential candidate personally approved a hush money payment to bury a porn star's story of a sexual encounter before it could derail his 2016 campaign.

Ollie Dooley says he's enjoying student life but admits the size of the meals at University Hall has been a drawback. Image: RNZ Some first year University of Canterbury students are so famished they are resorting to buying takeaways after meals, despite paying annual residence hall fees of about $20,000.

Ollie Dooley says he's enjoying student life but admits the size of the meals at University Hall has been a drawback. Image: RNZ Some first year University of Canterbury students are so famished they are resorting to buying takeaways after meals, despite paying annual residence hall fees of about $20,000.