NZ Apple Sector Pushes for Japan & Korea Market Access
The apple sector is working with the Government to unlock access to two key markets that could bring millions in revenue for apple growers.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says the devastation in the South Island from the Kaikoura earthquakes was worse than he initially thought.
After flying over the area he says there is widespread devastation down the coast and inland and an estimated 100,000 landslips. Extrapolating that number of landslips through rural New Zealand, “it is massive”, he says.
He has seen faultlines through farms and cow sheds just “munted”.
“The devastation down there is bigger than I thought it would be. It will take a long period of time to help rebuild these rural communities,” he says.
They have announced a rural support package of $5 million – they know that won’t cover everything that’s needed.
“A real focus will be on those non insurable items on farm, we will fund the Rural Support Trust, we will fund some coordinators,” he says.
“I am very keen to see if we can get agricultural students from Lincoln and Massey and Taratahi over the summer months to work with the adverse events team from Federated Farmers who provide that coordination.
The initial focus was on human welfare, making sure farmers and families were looking after one another and their communities, animal welfare and restoring water supplies.
OPINION: The time has come for the Government to back the organic sector.
Plan ahead and be patient. That’s the message to farmers and horticulturalists from the chairman of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association, Kent Weir.
The industry is crying out for graduates with agricultural related degrees.
While GPS and guidance have become the norm and yield mapping and variable application continues to gain traction, most agricultural machinery manufacturers continue to expand their technology offerings, amalgamating the vast amounts of data being collected to streamline real-time and ongoing management decisions.
Supply chain problems, growing protectionism and a move to greater food security are some of the key challenges facing New Zealand exporters, according to our top trade negotiator, Vangelis Vitalis.
A spat within the ranks of the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association has resulted in the suspension of outspoken North Canterbury farmer Barry Cuttance.
OPINION: After hogging the media limelight for telling a NZ Chinese MP to "go back home", Winston Peters has decided…
OPINION: With fuel prices soaring, one would have expected most farmers to be reclaiming excise duty on petrol.