Potatoes New Zealand Celebrates Milestone Amid Grower Pressures
Potatoes New Zealand is reflecting on its legacy of innovation, resilience and a commitment to growers as it gets ready to mark its birthday on 17th April.
The programme for Hort Connections 2019 has been released for the 3200 people expected at the ‘Growing our food future’ conference in Australia in late June.
Hort Connections 2019 is the premiere event in the Australian horticulture industry, encompassing the vegetable, fruit, nut, cut floral and nursery sectors.
The conference, a joint effort by AUSVEG and the Produce Marketing Association Australia-New Zealand (PMA A-NZ), will run from June 24-26 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. It welcomes all members of NZ’s horticulture industry, from primary producers to retailers and the entire supply chain.
“Over 100 NZ delegates and exhibitors have already registered for Hort Connections 2019, paving the way for... a strong trans-Tasman partnership across the entire supply chain,” spokesman Nathan McIntrye says.
“Alongside trade show exhibitors from NZ, United Fresh has also come onboard as an industry partner to share their experience in supporting and promoting the fresh produce industry.”
Key events will cover topics including onfarm productivity, agricultural innovations on the horizon and industry issues affecting the supply chain and consumers. A National Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner will acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of the industry’s leaders.
“Hort Connections 2019 is set to build on the success of previous events to bring even more value to the horticulture industry in Australia and New Zealand,” McIntyre says.
For more information or to register online: hortconnections.com.au
A verbal stoush has broken out between Federated Farmers and a new group that claims to be fighting against cheaper imports that undermine NZ farmers.
According to the latest ANZ Agri Focus report, energy-intensive and domestically-focused sectors currently bear the brunt of rising fuel, fertiliser and freight costs.
Having gone through a troublesome “divorce” from its association and part ownership of AGCO, Indian manufacturer TAFE is said to be determined to be seen as a modern business rather than just another tractor maker from the developing world.
Two long-standing New Zealand agricultural businesses are coming together to strengthen innovation, local manufacturing capability, and access to essential farm inputs for farmers across the country.
A new farmer-led programme aimed at bringing young people into dairy farming is under way in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.

OPINION: If you ask this old mutt, the choice at the next election isn't shaping up as a contest of…
OPINION: A mate of yours says we're long overdue for a reckoning on what value farmers really get for the…