NZ winegrowers advance vineyard biosecurity in 2025
The year was marked by “progress, collaboration and reflection” in biosecurity, says New Zealand Winegrowers Biosecurity Advisor Jim Herdman.
The New Zealand Equine Health Association signed up to a Government Industry Agreement (GIA) for Biosecurity Readiness and Response at the Karaka yearling sales last month.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has welcomed a fourth primary industry to join the GIA partnership.
“This means the horse racing, recreational and breeding industry and the Ministry for Primary Industries can work together to manage and respond to the most important biosecurity risks,” Guy said.
“The equine industry is an important primary industry exporter with a strong international reputation. It supports almost 17,000 full-time jobs and contributes $1.6 billion to the New Zealand economy from domestic and export activity.”
Guy added that while New Zealand is fortunate that our horse population is free of equine influenza – probably the industry’s most serious disease threat – we must be vigilant to maintain that status.
“I’m pleased the industry has recognised the value that GIA offers by working together to maximise our collective strengths.”
New Zealand Pork, Kiwifruit Vine Health and Pipfruit New Zealand signed up to the GIA in 2014.
As fuel and fertiliser prices rise and with uncertainty in the future, farmers are being urged to go over their budgets with a fine-tooth comb.
Federated Farmers says reforms of local government announced last week will be music to farmers' ears.
Hinehou Timutimu, the 2026 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year, says she feels privileged to have won the award.
Irish meat processor Dawn Meats has acquired Alexander Eyckeler GmbH, a long-standing German customer and partner of Alliance Group, for an undisclosed sum.
ACT's new immigration policy has come under fire from farmers and the Government.
A hypothesis in a major dairy research programme that bulls genetically proven to be low methane producers could pass this trait onto their lactating daughters has been proven to be incorrect.