$150B farm succession challenge looms for NZ agriculture
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Rabobank has appointed Ben Picton to the newly-created role of senior strategist, global economics & markets.
Based in Sydney, Picton, will provide strategic macro-economic research and engagement – including interest rates and economic projections – for the specialist global agribusiness bank in New Zealand and Australia.
Rabobank New Zealand chief executive Todd Charteris says it was the first time Rabobank’s global economics & markets research team would have a representative based in the region, with the role specifically covering macroeconomics for New Zealand and Australia.
Charteris says Picton would “hit the ground running” having more than seven years of experience with Rabobank’s global financial markets team, where he held a number of positions in derivatives sales and trading, working with the bank’s wholesale agribusiness and farming clients.
His most recent role with Rabobank was director, corporate risk & treasury management.
Brett Wotton, an Eastern Bay of Plenty kiwifruit grower and harvest contractor, has won the 2025 Kiwifruit Innovation Award for his work to support lifting fruit quality across the industry.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.