Rural Contractors to Support New Farm Plastics Scheme
Rural contractors will be able to play a role in the revamped agricultural plastic recycling scheme with new regulations due for Cabinet signoff before this year’s election.
A rural recycling scheme will now include on-farm collection of large drums.
The new Agrecovery service offers free collection of empty containers 61-1000L from 14 participating brand owners of agrichemical and dairy products (Agrisource, Adama, Bayer, BioAg, Donaghys, Etec Crop Solutions, FIL, Farmguard, Orion Crop Protection, Post-Harvest Solutions, Ravensdown, Synergy, Syngenta and Yara). More brands are expected to join.
“A solution for larger packaging is a natural next step for Agrecovery,” says Adrienne Wilcock, who represents DairyNZ on the Agrecovery Foundation.
“Large scale farmers, spray contractors and dairy farmers especially should take note that their large drums and IBC’s can now be collected for free.”
Agrecovery currently recycles the containers of 60 firms – 1 million kg of plastic since launching in 2007.
“It’s a good way for farmers to divert more waste from farm dumps or burning pits, especially in areas where burning is banned, like Canterbury and Southland,” Willcock says.
“As a dairy farmer myself, I’ll be supporting the brands that offer this solution with Agrecovery.”
Dairy hygiene firm GEA FIL drums can now be recycled via Agrecovery.
In addition to free on-property collection of large drums, smaller FIL containers (60L and under) can be taken to any of the 70 Agrecovery collection sites. They must be empty, triple rinsed and free from dirt and residue inside and out.
Tel. 0800 247 326
www.agrecovery.co.nz
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) has released its 2026 election manifesto, outlining priorities to support the sector’s growth, resilience, and contribution to New Zealand’s food security and export revenue.
Farmers have voted to continue the Milksolids Levy that funds DairyNZ.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell has resigned after eight years in the role.
Matt McRae, a farmer from Mokoreta in Southland who runs a sheep, beef and dairy support business alongside a sheep stud, has been elected to the Beef +Lamb NZ Board as a farmer director.
Ravensdown's next evolution in smart farming technology, HawkEye Pro, was awarded the Technology Section Award at the Southern Field Days Farm Innovation Awards in February 2026.
While mariners may recognise a “dog watch” as a two-hour shift on a ship, the Good Dog Work Watch is quite a different concept and the clever creation of Southland siblings Grace (9) and Archer Brown (7), both pupils at Riverton Primary School.
OPINION: Expect the Indian free trade deal to feature strongly in the election campaign.
OPINION: One of the world's largest ice cream makers, Nestlé, is going cold on the viability of making the dessert.