Editorial: Support, don't stifle farmers
OPINION: Ministry for Primary Industries' situation outlook for primary industries report (SOPI) makes impressive reading.
A two-year project will help identify how New Zealand's apiculture sector sector can achieve sustainable growth.
It will be funded from the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund for the project.
Apiculture NZ chief executive Karin Kos says the project's aim is to establish a strategic direction for NZ's apiculture sector by identifying 'actionable measures to enable sustainable value growth'.
"The sector experienced huge growth following the quick escalation in demand from international consumers for New Zealand's mānuka honey," Kos explains. "But in many ways the sector's response to meet that new demand has been unsustainable. Now is the time to understand how we can capitalise on the opportunities that have emerged, but at a rate that can be lasting, both for participants and the environment."
She says the honey industry welcomes the Government's support to help it realise that goal.
The work will look at opportunities to capture more value at all levels of the sector and understand what type of transformation, capability and innovation will be required to capture that value sustainably.
Kos says the funding will not only help to prepare a plan but support the initial implementation of projects deemed to be vital to delivering sustainable growth.
Questions are being raised about just how good the state of the dairy industry is - especially given that the average farmgate payout for the coming season is set to exceed $10/kgMS.
A leading financial and banking advisor says he doubts if most dairy farmers fully understand the dynamics of banking.
Dairy farmers are shoring up their balance sheets, with almost $1.7 billion of debt repaid in the six months to March 2025.
Virtual fencing company Halter is going global but for founder Craig Piggott, New Zealand farmers will always remain their main partners.
A former Fonterra executive is the new chair of the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ).
New Federated Farmers national dairy chair Karl Dean is looking forward to tackling the issues facing the sector.
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