Precision N application test costs 'outweigh returns'
Precision application of nitrogen can improve yields, but the costs of testing currently outweigh improved returns, according to new research from Plant and Food Research, MPI and Ravensdown.
It's being recommended that consumers add an additional two servings of fruit a day to their diet during winter.
With winter chills hitting, getting at least two servings of fruit each day is a great way to improve your health and wellbeing.
That's according to 5+ A Day trustee and principal scientist, Dr Carolyn Lister. She says that in addition to the recommeded five servings of vegetables, winter fruit such as kiwifruit, lemons, Navel oranges and tamarillos provide important immunity support.
"Fresh is best when it comes to winter fruit. With the huge variety of fresh fruit available through the winter months, it's easy to grab a kiwifruit or a Navel orange for a healthy snack on the go, but why not try adding your favourites to a main meal?"
Lister says that buying the varieties that are in season now will not only provide consumers the biggest nutritional punch, but also the best value.
"The delicious fruit grown here in NZ are one of the best sources of the essential nutrients our bodies need. They're packed full of vitamins, anti-oxidants, fibre and water that support repair and recovery, immunity, energy levels, and mental wellbeing."
Lister adds that incorporating fresh fruit into your evening meal is a great way to make sure the whole whānau gets at least two servings of fruit every day for optimal health.
The 5+ A Day Charitable Trust website has a database with recipes and suggestions for in season fruit and vegetables at https://www.5aday.co.nz.
Keratin biomaterials company Keraplast and Wools of New Zealand have signed a new superpremium wool contract which is said to deliver a boost to wool growers.
While things are looking positive for the red meat sector in 2026, volatility in global trade remains a concern, says the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
The quest to find innovative practical, scientific solutions to deal with water-related issues at a catchment level has been the theme of an important conference at Massey University last week.
One of the country's top Māori farms faces a long and costly rebuild to get the property back to where it was before recent storms ripped through it.
The latest Global Dairy Trade auction results have delivered a boost to dairy farmers.
New Zealand potato growers are prioritising value creation from high yields to meet a complex mix of challenges and opportunities, says Potatoes NZ chief executive Kate Trufitt.

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