Two new awards open to help young farmers progress to farm ownership
Entries have opened for two awards in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) programme, aimed at helping young farmers progress to farm ownership.
OPINION: Economists, in their usual excitable tones, have, for a while now, been openly questioning the Reserve Bank’s glacially slow reaction to the recessionary economic conditions we’re all drowning in.
ASB’s October RBNZ Preview was one example: “We are increasingly concerned that the OCR is very high relative to a more neutral level in an economy where inflation pressures and capacity have in effect already normalised.”
Translation: The RBNZ has crashed the economy and urgently needs to cut the OCR
In the first week of October, ASB was expecting two 50bp cuts in 2024 (last week the RBNZ dropped the OCR by 50bp) and a further 25bp cut in February 2025- with one of their economists saying, “the largest regret now facing the RBNZ is moving too little, too late”.
The avocado sector is entering the new season with a larger crop and positive market opportunities.
New Zealand growers have always adapted to changing conditions, but one challenge is steadily gaining ground across the horticulture sector: resistance.
Blueberries have the potential to become a major horticultural export, earning up to $150 million within the next three to five years.
Twenty five secondary school students from around New Zealand recently completed a three day residential programme designed to explore career opportunities across the food and fibre production supply chain.
Conversions of sheep and beef farms to forestry have slowed, however new research from Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) suggests land of value for food production remains at risk.
OPINION: A simpler, clearer, more effective Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
OPINION: The Irish dairy sector is facing a new dilemma - maintaining year-round fresh milk supplies.
OPINION: Could beef cows play an increasingly important role in improving profitability and resilience on hill country farms?