NZ tomato growers face rising energy costs
Tomato growers are facing a challenge like never before over the rising cost of energy and the uncertainty of supply.
Hort NZ chair Barry O'Neil says food supply and security is fundamental to New Zealand's future.
He says the question has to be asked whether people want fresh fruit and vegetables grown in NZ. O'Neil stresses that unless highly productive land is retained and the cost of production kept at a reasonable level, the alternative will be imported product.
"That is the scenario we are facing and to us it's a no brainer," he told Hort News.
"We want our children and grandchildren to always have access to our own produce. We need to get Kiwis eating healthy, nutritious food to address the health consequences we are seeing all too much of in New Zealand."
O'Neil says other issues the incoming government needs to address include "a totally messed up" resourcing and consenting system, an Environmental Protection Agency approval system that is "for all intents and purposes broken" and labour policies that seem to incentivise low productivity.
He adds that the challenge facing the country is how to get agreement on some really hard issues - something that has not happened to date. "We keep on delaying making decisions and kick them down the road for someone else to handle," O'Neil says. "That is just not good enough and has to change - we must address them for everyone's future."
O'Neil also believes that central and regional government, Māori, industry and the wider community must find a way of working together to be able to make decisions within a reasonable time and cost framework.
"We are fiddling while Rome burns. We can't take 20 years to land these issues, nor can we afford to spend hundreds of millions arguing the solutions."
He says this is not rocket science because the solutions are under our noses.
"We all need to engage with open minds, understand the issues and options available, agree the way forward and make it happen."
Like many manufacturers around the world, European agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturers are currently operating in a difficult market environment. But they are heading to the world’s largest agricultural machinery event in Hanover next month with a degree of cautious optimism.
Established in 2021, the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards champion the important contribution parts and service technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
OPINION: Ageing lefty Chris Trotter reckons that the decision to delay recognition of Palestinian statehood is more than just a fit…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly recently met someone at a BBQ who works at a big consulting firm who spent…