Angus Kebbell

2 weeks ago | interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

Fifty years on from its formative years, the deer farming industry in New Zealand remains driven by the same pioneering mindset that built it. That was the clear takeaway from a recent conversation with Mark McCoard, chair of the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association (NZDFA) and a deer, sheep and beef farmer based in Taihape. Despite its growth, the sector continues to face a unique set of challenges, not least around market volatility, generational renewal and the push for long-term viability.

4 weeks ago | interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

For years now, I have been highlighting the importance of farming in this country, while also sounding the alarm on permanent exotic forestry being planted solely for carbon farming at the expense of food production and rural communities. It is no secret that large emitting corporations are driving this agenda, using the ability to offset their emissions rather than confronting their own activities.

1 month ago | interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

For too long, methane has been cast as the climate villain, and agriculture, particularly livestock farming has been caught in the crossfire. But according to Frank Mitloehner, Professor and Director of the Clear Center at the University of California, Davis, we’ve been measuring and misunderstanding methane all wrong. And it’s time we changed that. “Methane is a unique gas,” Mitloehner explained in a recent interview.

2 months ago | interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

Understanding China’s agricultural landscape isn’t just a strategic curiosity for New Zealand’s farmers and exporters, it’s a necessity. With over half the world’s pigs, the largest aquaculture sector, and a booming demand for quality animal protein, China is not just a market, it’s a driver of global agriculture. And for a country like ours, where exports underpin the rural economy, keeping an eye on how Chinese consumers think, eat and spend has never been more important.

2 months ago | interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

A couple of years ago, I spoke with Tom O’Sullivan, a farmer and passionate advocate for wool who was then chair of Campaign for Wool. At the time, the mood in the strong wool industry was bleak. Prices had hit rock bottom, synthetic fibres were flooding the market, and for many farmers, shearing costs outweighed the value of the fleece. Tom spoke candidly - about frustration, generational loss, and the heartbreak of watching a once-proud New Zealand export become almost worthless.