The Government continues to invest in farm sustainability, this time backing two new research projects to investigate the impacts of regenerative farming practices, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. Soil health and regenerative agriculture “We’re contributing $2.8 million to a $3.85 million five-year project with co-investment by Synlait Milk and Danone that aims to understand […]
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Government backs rural driver licensing support programme
From the Minister for Rural Communities – Damien O’Connor The Government has committed an extra $600,000 in funding to support driver licensing and education programmes in rural communities across Aotearoa, Rural Communities Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. The funding, provided by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), will be spread over three years to boost […]
Economic Week – November 5
Commodity prices set new record. Commodity prices hit new a record high in October, according to ANZ World Commodity Price Index. The World Price Index lifted 2.1% in October compared to September. Dairy prices jumped 3.7%, mainly on the back of tight global milk supply with demand steady. Meat and fibre prices were up 1.6%, […]
Economic Week – October 29
Fonterra milk price good news for farmers and for New Zealand. With the 2021/22 season well underway, Fonterra has increased and narrowed its forecast farmgate milk price to $7.90-$8.90 per kgMS, up from its previous forecast $7.25. The mid-point is up from $8.00 to $8.40. Fonterra observed that the $8.40 would equal the highest farmgate […]
‘Humble’ onion to undergo extreme makeover
The ‘humble’ onion is about to undergo an extreme makeover, with the Government investing $2.83 million in a programme to enhance the competitive advantage of New Zealand’s onion industry, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. Onions New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) fund will jointly invest $6.02 […]
Economic Week – October 22
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 […]
Water entity concerns run too deep to just press ahead
Federated Farmers joins the many council elected representatives and citizens up and down the country urging the government to go back to the drawing board on reform of three waters delivery. “While it’s clear that billions of dollars of investment are needed to get drinking water, stormwater and sewerage infrastructure up to scratch, there are […]
Primary sector calls for clear, achievable freshwater farm plans
Government submissions by two primary sector organisations, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand, are calling for proposed new freshwater farm plan rules to be clear and achievable. Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and DairyNZ support freshwater farm plans, in principle, however clarity is needed on how the rules fit with broader regional and […]
Watch and learn so we don’t end up running on empty
Written by: Nick Leggett, CEO, Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand In Britain this week we’ve watched mayhem at the petrol pumps as they ran out of fuel due to a shortage of truck drivers. Watch and learn New Zealand, this could be us before long. There are a number of lessons to learn from […]
NZPork disappointed at further delay to Country of Origin labelling regulations
New Zealand’s pork sector is disappointed at a further delay to the introduction of Country of Origin labelling regulations. The Government has announced that the regulations covering fresh/chilled food including pork and cured pork have been delayed for three months until February 2022. “We were eagerly awaiting these regulations to come into force in November,” […]