Federated Farmers says today’s announcement of a free trade deal between the United Kingdom and New Zealand is great news for consumers and farmers in both countries. “The United Kingdom is walking the talk when it comes to promising a truly global Britain,” Federated Farmers National President Andrew Hoggard says. “We congratulate the New Zealand […]
National
Match being stoic with a good dose of realism
By Cherrie Chubb, Dairy Chair, Federated Farmers Golden Bay OPINION: It is no understatement to say that we live in challenging times. While we can be thankful to have avoided the worst of the impacts from the Delta lockdowns, we have not been spared from the weather. Floods, storms and the persistent number of wet […]
Move now to define ‘regenerative’ on our terms
There is no unified, single definition of what ‘regenerative agriculture’ is globally. A new report argues New Zealand should step up and craft that definition – and seize the market premiums that could go with it. New York-based Alpha Food Labs spearheaded a global research project on consumers’ attitudes to regenerative agriculture on behalf of […]
Just in time market signals too late for local bread wheat growers
A ‘just in time’ attitude to sending market signals to New Zealand’s arable growers won’t cut the mustard in the current climate, Federated Farmers Arable Chair Colin Hurst says. “Harvest only happens once a year so really it’s a case of ‘get your orders in early’.” The 1 July AIMI (Arable Industry Marketing Initiative) survey […]
Federated Farmers Easy Guide to Arable
Facts to Learn Arable production in New Zealand includes everything that is grown as a crop and harvested by a combine harvester. This includes crops such as cereals for human and animal feed, maize for grain and silage, grass and legume seeds for pasture and amenity, and high value vegetable seeds. Other farming systems use […]
Residency pathway will ease rural GP shortage
While farmers were heaving sighs of relief that the government had finally announced a clear and achievable residency process for international workers and their families that was certainly matched in the offices of the NZ Rural General Practice Network. It was long-awaited news for an estimated 9000 ag sector workers, and also for around 5000 […]
Parasite resistance to drenches Action Plan launched
A new Action Plan designed to help manage parasite resistance to drenches in New Zealand has been launched. Encouraging the responsible marketing and sales of drench, more accurate and easier parasite testing, research to demonstrate the costs and benefits of various parasite management approaches and better training and development are among the new priorities in […]
McDonald’s beefs up environmentally friendly farming
Unique public-private partnership with AgResearch to trial regenerative beef farming. In a partnership that links scientific research with burger fans, McDonald’s and science provider AgResearch have joined forces on a regenerative farming trial. The two organisations have a shared interest in positively influencing the sustainability of pasture-based beef production and are working together on a […]
More youth funded into sheep and beef careers
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) have signed a funding agreement with the Growing Future Farmers (GFF) Essential Farm Skills Programme, helping attract and train more young people in the red meat sector. The GFF Programme offers a range of specialised industry training and development opportunities across the country including formal New Zealand Qualifications Authority […]
Alliance Group announces Asia deal with Marks & Spencer
Leading food and solutions company Alliance Group is partnering with the global retail giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) on a range of value-add branded beef and lamb products in Singapore. The M&S-branded range, all further processed in New Zealand, is now available in 11 stores on the island, home to almost six million people. The […]