Youth take centre stage at East Coast Farming Expo 2026
There's a special sort of energy at the East Coast Farming Expo, especially when it comes to youth.
The 2023 East Coast Farming Expo, scheduled for next week in Wairoa, has been cancelled.
Devstation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle has cut off the northern Hawke’s Bay town, with regional and local roading damaged.
In an email to exhibitors, Expo event manager Sue Wilson says the Wairoa A&P Showgrounds has been dissemated with water and silt ripping through buildings leaving total distruction.
With some buildings and fences destroyed it will take months to restore the grounds.
Wilson says after three challenging years, her team were looking forward to delivering the event next week for farmers on the east coast.
“But it isn’t to be, and we need to concentrate on making sure our local community are okay.
“Right now our focus is on those who need support, with some team member’s homes and land being destroyed in Gabrielle’s path of destruction.
“Stakeholders and exhibitors are asked to be patient for the next week until communication is restored, when we will be in contact.”
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.

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