Editorial: Agri's mojo is back
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
OPINION: The dairy industry will be a major beneficiary of a new free trade deal between NZ and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).
The council, comprising some of the world's wealthiest countries - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE - already buy $1.8 billion worth of NZ dairy products. This makes the GCC region our second-largest dairy market after China. New Zealand and GCC trade is worth over $3 billion annually, with New Zealand exporting $2.6 billion in the year to June 2024.
The New Zealand Government - in particular Trade Minister Todd McClay - deserves a pat on the back for this achievement. Previous NZ governments must also be acknowledged for laying the foundation for the trade deal. It delivers on an 18 year-long ambition for New Zealand to bag this high-quality trade deal in the Middle East.
This is the highest quality deal the GCC has done to date and its first with a major agricultural exporter. It delivers duty-free access for 99% of New Zealand's exports over 10 years and when combined with our recently concluded NZ-UAE CEPA, 51% of our exports to the region will be tariff-free from day one.
Dairy processors welcome this deal along with the other recent deal between NZ and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Locking in elimination of the already low tariffs on key dairy products into this highly valuable market provides important commercial certainty for dairy exporters, according to the Dairy Companies Association of NZ (DCANZ).
It wants the Government to maintain momentum and ambition to bring down barriers with other negotiating partners, including upgrading existing trade agreements that have not yet secured dairy tariff elimination. This will ensure continuing high quality and high value markets for our world-class dairy products.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.