HortNZ director nominations open
Nominations are now open for the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board.
Tomatoes New Zealand is encouraging NZ consumers to buy local and support New Zealand tomato growers.
“Fresh, New Zealand-grown tomatoes are in good supply as we enter spring,” says Tomatoes New Zealand chair, Barry O’Neil.
“But we also have significant volumes of imported irradiated Australian tomatoes in the market (almost 168.5 tonnes in June and July 2023).”
O’Neil explains that some imported fresh produce is irradiated to lessen the risk of fruit fly coming into New Zealand. It is a requirement that irradiated fresh produce be labelled so that consumers are aware.
“The industry has had several challenging years, where it has had to manage disease pressures, mainly due to the very poor weather,” he explains. “Also, being part of the ETS, along with ongoing production cost increases, has put many growers in uncertain financial positions.”
O’Neil says, over winter, retailers will import cheaper fresh tomatoes from Australia, which are not subject to similar ETS costs in Australia. He adds this means New Zealand growers compete on an unlevel playing field.
“However, by buying New Zealand-grown tomatoes, consumers will be supporting local growers and helping to ensure New Zealand’s long-term food security, by supporting local jobs and businesses.”
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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