Deer velvet production is forecast to lift this season, but there are warnings of some headwinds facing the sector.
There are about 1500 deer farms in New Zealand. As well as farming for venison, many harvest antler velvet and sell it to Asian communities who believe it has healing properties.

In 2014 this area of Pukekauri Farms was described by the Ballance Farm Environmental judges 'as of national significance'.

Three Dannevirke groups have secured community grants for freshwater improvement projects.

They were among 14 successful applicants who will receive funding from the Manawatū River Leaders' Forum for freshwater improvement projects throughout the Manawatū Catchment.

Damien O'Connor says concerns over the Government's Essential Freshwater proposals have been "whipped up into a bit of a frenzy", and most farmers have nothing to fear.

In fact, the Minister for Agriculture told The Country's Jamie Mackay that all New Zealand farmers will gain from the proposals.

Farmers are worried about proposed water policy changes, but their concerns are largely based on a fear of the unknown, says Northland dairy farmer Andrew Booth.

In recent weeks social media has been rife with comments from on-edge farmers, and small town halls packed to the rafters as officials have been quizzed over the proposals.

Wairarapa MP Alastair Scott has raised concerns about the harmful impacts of the government's recently announced Action for Health Waterways on local farmers before consultation events.

Earlier in the week, Scott met with local mayors, farmers, consultants and community to discuss the implications of the new legislative standards.

Four former Wairarapa students now studying at Lincoln University are heading overseas after each being awarded the Prime Minister’s Scholarship last week. Sixty-five students from the university were given scholarships to study in China, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and Brazil to improve understanding of New Zealand’s trading partners’ business practices and culture.

OPINION: I met a sheep and beef farmer at a 40th birthday party a few weeks ago. As he introduced himself, his partner chipped in with, "please, he's not one of those farmers."

Accusations of figures being "plucked from the air" and calls for more time to submit were heard at a lively Timaru meeting on water quality.

It was a full house at the Grey Way Lounge at Phar Lap Raceway on Thursday night, when Environment Minister David Parker and Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor spoke to a second meeting for the day about the Government's proposed reforms on freshwater.

Getting the right people to complete the right sort of farm environment plan is going to be a challenge, Total Ag farm consultant Rob Macnab says.

If not done properly they could threaten farm profitability and environmental success.

The deer industry has for several years been encouraging its farmers to not only do farm environment plans but to keep them up to date.

In light of the Government’s latest freshwater proposals the industry is now alerting farmers to prepare for change.