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Seeds of change

Thomas Chin, general manager of the New Zealand Plant Breeders Association.

A proposed recycling levy on commonly used polyethylene woven seed sacks and bags is likely to come into effect next year.

$2.5m investment in methane mitigation

New Zealand researchers working on a methane vaccine for use on farm.

The Centre for Climate Action Joint Venture (the JV) says it will invest up to $2.5 million to support research on developing a methane vaccine and methane inhibitor for use on New Zealand farms.

Pressure on milk prices

Emma Higgins says farmgate prices are moving lower in 2023 in part due to global milk supply returning to growth.

Rabobank has announced an opening farmgate milk forecast of $8.20kg/MS for the 2023/24 season, while also highlighting vastly changed global dairy markets.

New ambassadors set the standard

Steven and Kellie Nichol picked up the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the recent Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Otago sheep and beef farmers Steven and Kellie Nichol won the coveted Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the recent Ballance Farm Environment Awards. As such, they also become the 2023 national ambassadors for sustainable farming and growing.

Bionic capsule use banned

Wormwise programme manager Ginny Dodunski says farmers cannot use the capsules even if they have already purchased them.

Farmers are being urged to consider other options to support ewe performance over lambing, following a ban on the sale and use of Bionic Capsules.

Battle over honey continues

International manuka honey markets are forecast to be worth $1.27b by 2027.

New Zealand honey producers are "disappointed but undeterred", while Australian beekeepers have welcomed a "common sense" ruling.

On-farm inflation at '80s high

On-farm inflation is running at 16.3% - 2.5 times the consumer price inflation rate of 6.7%.

"We thought last year was bad, but this is the highest on-farm inflation rate for sheep and beef farmers in 40 years.”

A hard year for kiwifruit growers

Zespri's recent financial results show that global revenue from fruit sales for the 2022/23 season were down 3% on the previous season.

No surprises, it's been a bad year for the kiwifruit sector with the final numbers recently released by Zespri.

Gabrielle hits apple exports

Apples and Pears NZ's early estimate is that Cyclone Gabrielle has impacted this year's crop by around 5 million tray cartons. Photo Credit: Paul Sutherland Photography.

The country's export apple crop has taken a big hit as a result of the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Cyclones cost farmers hundreds of millions

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) estimates the cost for sheep and beef farmers from recent severe weather events, including two cyclones, could total between $367 million and $422 million.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) estimates the cost for sheep and beef farmers from recent severe weather events – including Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary weather bomb – could total between $367 million and $422 million.