Shawn McAvinue

Dunedin

Writer at New Zealand Herald

Reporter at Otago Daily Times

Reporter at Southern Rural Life

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Articles

Couple’s first year on farm working well

3 weeks ago | odt.co.nz | Shawn McAvinue

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. Rural lifePeopleBrendan and Avril Lane are celebrating their first season as owners of a dairy farm on an island in South Otago. During their first year, water supply has been a double-edged sword — the land has sometimes been swamped by it and the farm business has at times been constrained by the lack of it — they talk to Shawn McAvinue.
Kale surplus takes top honour

3 weeks ago | odt.co.nz | Shawn McAvinue

A winter crop surplus, featuring award-winning kale, has Ben Peter searching for more mouths to eat it. The kale paddock won best overall crop at the Central Otago Winterfeed Competition recently. As it was the first time he had entered the competition, he was considering never entering again so he could maintain a perfect record. "It might be the last time," he said.
Call for ‘townie’ dogs to be dosed

3 weeks ago | odt.co.nz | Shawn McAvinue

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. Rural lifeRed MeatManiototo sheep farmer Irene Leask believes "townie ignorance" is costing her business. Her meat processing company has condemned 14 sheep carcasses in the past three months, due to sheep measles. The meatworks pay nothing for a condemned carcass, which should be earning her more than $150. "It soon mounts up. I can’t afford to keep chucking carcasses down the chute," she said.
Bull prices reflect industry confidence

3 weeks ago | odt.co.nz | Shawn McAvinue

Confidence in the beef industry has bull buyers bidding up, a Teviot Valley stud owner says. Limehills Polled Hereford Stud sold all of the 49 bulls it offered at its 46th annual sale in Millers Flat last week. The rising 2-year-old bulls sold for an average of $10,300 and four were sold to studs. Stud co-owner Gray Pannett said the strong sale result was a reflection of the confidence in the beef industry and the Hereford breed. The average price might be the highest in the history of the sale.
Positive vibes ahead of field days

1 month ago | odt.co.nz | Shawn McAvinue

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. Rural lifeRural EventsRegistrations are open for the 2026 Southern Field Days in Waimumu. Shawn McAvinue talks to Southern Field Days chairman Steve Henderson, of Awarua, about the event in February next year. Q. How are you feeling about organising this event?
Black beauty the star of the show

1 month ago | odt.co.nz | Shawn McAvinue

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. Rural lifePeopleA black Simmental bull sold for $42,000 in North Taieri last week. Shawn McAvinue talks to Leafland Simental owner Everd Strauss about the big bull living up to the hype, the rise of the breed, balancing farming with his day job and his retirement plans. A black Simmental bull is living up to his sale pitch as "the star of the show".
Kale crop above the rest - literally

1 month ago | odt.co.nz | Shawn McAvinue

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. Rural lifeOther NewsTaieri Winter Crop CompetitionStrath Taieri farmer Ken Bain’s homecoming features an award-winning kale crop. The Hindon sheep and cattle farmer was crowned the winner of the 2025 Taieri Winter Crop Competition, taking out the section for a kale crop cultivated on a hill. His kale crop was easily the best he had ever grown but he was surprised to win.
Bumper swede crop wins award

1 month ago | odt.co.nz | Shawn McAvinue

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. Rural lifeOther NewsTaieri Winter Crop CompetitionAn award-winning swede crop grown high on a Strath Taieri hill tastes better after being hit by its first frost. Sheep and beef farmer Ash Beattie runs about 6000 Perendale ewes and about 200 cows, mostly Angus, on his more than 1400ha rolling to steep property Glenlee Run in Black Rock, about 30km northwest of Outram.
Southern-made gear popular across Tasman

1 month ago | odt.co.nz | Shawn McAvinue

Monday, 26 May 2025 You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. Rural lifeOther NewsAustralians are loving sheep-handling gear made in the South, Perkinz general manager Wayne Perkins says. About 90% of the Perkins gear built in a workshop in central Dunedin was shipped to clients in Australia. "We think it is pretty cool we are manufacturing here in Dunedin and exporting it to Australia," Mr Perkins said.
Proud to buy half of farm ‘hitting its stride’

1 month ago | odt.co.nz | Shawn McAvinue

You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. Rural lifeDairyLife is busy for Southland sharemilker Nan de Haan. He recently hosted a field day, speaking about establishing a herd, his breeding philosophy to improve it and how precide feed management may put more milk in the vat. Shawn McAvinue reports. Southland sharemilker Nan de Haan is proud to own a dairy farm, which is "hitting its stride".