Hort urged to back controversial emissions plan
The country's horticulturalists have been urged to get in behind the controversial He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) agricultural emissions plan.
More than 12 million mandarins will soon be available across New Zealand, as the season gets underway in Northland.
T&G, the largest citrus grower in New Zealand, is forecasting a harvest of around 80,000 crates of satsuma mandarins from Northland - one of New Zealand’s largest mandarin growing regions.
T&G’s Regional Manager - Northland, Tom Chamberlain says due to a warmer, drier summer, this season’s mandarins taste great.
“Satsuma mandarins are now the largest volume citrus crop in the country. This year the crop is fantastic – sweet tasting and larger in size – making them perfect for the whole family, he says.
While the majority of the new season fruit will be sold in New Zealand retail outlets, satsuma mandarins are also popular in Japan with some of T&G’s New Zealand crop being exported to the market over the coming months.
“Given current seasonal labour shortages, the challenge for us has been having enough hands to harvest the fruit,” Chamberlain explains.
“As an essential business, we’ve worked with many Northland employment agencies to provide opportunities to locals, alongside our seasonal workers, providing them with the required training on safe work practices.”
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.