Herbicide resistance is emerging as a serious and growing threat to New Zealand’s food production, with recent surveys by scientists finding half or more of arable farms and vineyards in some regions have weeds resistant to commonly used herbicides. AgResearch scientists, who are carrying out the first systematic approach to surveying for herbicide-resistant weeds in […]
Horticulture
Urban Kiwis and Farmers Share a Vision for Sustainable Food Production
When it comes to sustainable food, what matters more? What we’re buying. Or where, and who, we’re buying our food from? New research from @ourlandandwater suggests that urban Kiwis see supporting farmers directly with their dollar as the strongest sustainable food choice they can make. The study found that town or country, Kiwis have mostly […]
Wellbeing support package unveiled for horticulture sector
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced the rollout of a wellbeing support package for fruit growers facing tough times. “I understand it’s challenging at the moment. The pandemic has led to national workforce issues and orchardists down south have suffered crop losses caused by weather events. “This package significantly boosts funding and resources to support […]
First shipment of record Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit crop sets sail for Japan and Korea
The first shipment of what is expected to be a record season of New Zealand-grown Zespri Kiwifruit is now en route to Tokyo and Busan. The fruit is aboard the MV Kakariki, the second of three new specialised reefer vessels built by Fresh Carriers to ship New Zealand-grown kiwifruit to Zespri’s Asian markets, with the […]
Waitangi Day – top seven employment tips you need to know
This year, Waitangi Day falls on Saturday 6 February and is observed on that day or Monday 8 February. Here are seven items you need to know about rights for employees and obligations for employers. Mondayisation for Waitangi Day As Waitangi Day falls on a Saturday this year it means that that this holiday is […]
Peanut crops trialled in Northland
Pic’s Peanut Butter has kicked off a project to look at the feasibility of growing peanuts commercially in Northland, with backing from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). The $91,320 project is led by Picot Productions, and MPI is contributing more than $59,000 through its Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund. Research expertise is being […]
Positive start to export onion season
The 2021 New Zealand export onion season is off to an early and positive start. ‘Amongst all the turmoil created by Covid and the weather, it’s great to be able to report that exports of New Zealand onions to Indonesia are underway, two months earlier than last year,’ says Onions New Zealand Chief Executive, James […]
Improving the use of farm technology and data for applied farm management
Watermetrics is continually analyzing and improving its collection andpresentation of hard farm data so that effective farm management decisionscan be made. This year we developed Soil Moisture Analytics which is a new addition to theway data is presented. This tool helps present Soil Moisture, Rainfall andWater Meter data in an easy to understand way. For […]
Rocky road ahead on international trading front
Taxes is a ‘t’ word resented by some firms but the way Vangelis Vitalis tells it, the ‘t’ word that farming businesses and other export-oriented producers should worry about is tariffs. “You’re the sector that faces the highest tariff barriers,” New Zealand’s chief trade negotiator told an opening day session at the 2020 Primary Industries […]