Inflation shocker, thief on the loose. This week saw the release of inflation data for the September quarter and it was a shocker. Inflation is an insidious ‘thief in your wallet’, to quote a former Reserve Bank Deputy Governor, eroding purchasing power and savings and distorting decisions on spending and investment. The thief is becoming […]
Politics
Free trade deal will be a welcome boost for the New Zealand honey industry
Apiculture New Zealand welcomes the move by the New Zealand and UK governments to a free trade agreement in principle which will see the removal of tariffs on all New Zealand honey into the United Kingdom. “The free trade deal will be a great outcome for our industry and will improve our competitiveness in one […]
Benefits all round in NZ-UK Free Trade Deal
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 […]
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 […]
NZ primary sector best performer in global emissions survey
The New Zealand agriculture, land use and forestry sector has been ranked No 1 of 32 nations for the way it is getting to grips with climate change issues. “With environmental NGOs and commentators regularly pointing the finger of blame at our farmers it’s pleasing to see an independent and in-depth assessment tell a very […]
Current policy directions don’t work for Northland or NZ
A Q&A with one of the new crop of Federated Farmers Provincial Presidents – Colin Hannah, Northland What is your background? I was raised on a dairy farm, and as a teenager ran the farm while still at school as my father was busy building houses for others. My father had a rule: We could […]
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 […]