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NZ farmers start year on positive note

Rabobank New Zealand general manager for Country Banking, Hayley Moynihan.

2017 has begun on a positive note for the country’s farmers with rural confidence levels edging up, primarily driven by signs of renewed optimism among horticulturalists and sheep and beef producers.

Maori farmers should strut their stuff

The finalists of the Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Award at Parliament, Wellington, late last month. Photo by John Cowpland / alphapix.

Māori don't talk much about the good things they do and don’t talk themselves up enough, says the Minister of Māori Development, Te Ururoa Flavell.

Blue Sky deal falters

NZ Binxi Foods has backed out of a $25.4 million takeover of Invercargill meat processor Blue Sky Meats

NZ Binxi Foods, a subsidiary of China’s Heilongjiang Binxi Cattle Industry Co, has backed out of a $25.4 million takeover of Invercargill meat processor Blue Sky Meats.

Genetic breakthrough for sheep milk

The sheep milk industry has seen a breakthrough in getting semen from European milking sheep approved for entry to New Zealand.

Customers only a phone message away

With modern technology your farm’s customers are only a smartphone call away, Primary Industry Minister Nathan Guy says.

Report misses critical point – Guy

Ballance Environmental farmer of the Year Richard Kidd, with Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy who planted a kauri on Kidd’s farm.

An OECD report missed a critical point in claiming NZ is reaching its environmental limits and criticising the government’s primary export targets.

Rabbit virus delay will hurt

Rabbits can do an awful amount of damage to farmland.

Rabbit-plagued farmers are disappointed that bureaucracy has held up the anticipated release of a new strain of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (calicivirus).

NZ will need to lift its trade policy game – expert

New Zealand will have to be extremely active – even by its own standards – in trade policy, given the nature of the disruption caused by the new Trump administration.