Industrial Hemp Regulations Revoked as New Zealand Opens New Era for Hemp Industry
From last week, the Industrial Hemp Regulations 2006 have been revoked.
The Manawatu-Whanganui region has the largest number of sheep and beef cattle of any in New Zealand.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy recently launched a new scheme to lift the productivity and profitability of sheep and beef farmers in Manawatu-Whanganui.
The Sheep and Beef Land Productivity Programme comes out of the recently released Manawatu-Whanganui Growth Study, which identified the sheep and beef sector as a key opportunity for the region.
“This region has the largest number of sheep and beef cattle of any in New Zealand, so improving the performance of these farms will be an economic boost,” says Guy.
“We know the top 20% of red meat farmers achieve returns about four times more than those of the average red meat farmer, irrespective of land class and location. This shows the potential on offer.
Guy says a regional working group has begun developing a draft programme structure, looking at how to support farmers to reach their goals and remove barriers to them doing so.
“It will inform and inspire farmers through practical initiatives that make sense and work on the ground,” he adds.
“Of course the Government can’t and shouldn’t do this on our own and this will require involvement and investment by farmers and stakeholders. So it’s great to see there is widespread support from regional leaders to get cracking.”
FarmIQ Systems has developed a free land management app to help remove barriers to New Zealand farmers and growers adopting digital tools.
Rural Women New Zealand has announced the winners of the 2026 NZI Rural Women Business Awards.
Horticulture NZ says the funding boost to improve state highway resilience will support growers and strengthen the transport links they rely on to get produce to market.
Gallagher has appointed Rob Clayton as Chief Executive of its global Animal Management business to lead the next stage of growth across key markets.
A Waihi dairy farmer, Keith Torrens, has been convicted and fined $39,000 for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent following a prosecution taken by Waikato Regional Council.
Taranaki's sunshine and energy sector expertise are powering a new approach to renewable energy, with the launch of BlueGreen Frontiers.

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