Team effort behind new ryegrass cultivar to future-proof pastoral farming
It takes a team approach to produce a new cultivar of ryegrass, match-fit to meet the future challenges of pastoral farming.
Australian rural services company Elders has downplayed media speculation it is raising funds for a buyout of New Zealand’s largest agricultural services company PGG Wrightson (PGW).
In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange, last week, Elders said had not made “any definitive proposal” to buy PGW.
This came after a report in The Australian newspaper that it is seeking to raise A$300 million – speculating that Elders – along with Dutch seed company Barenbrug (a corner-stone shareholder in NZ Agriseeds) – are interested in buying all or part of PGW.
However, in the ASX statement, Elders chief executive Mark Allison says the company will only make acquisitions that make compelling strategic and financial sense.
Rumours about PGW’s future have been triggered by claims that Chinese-owned Agria Corp wants to quit its 50% stake in the NZ rural services company.
Agria is being investigated by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) for its “good character”, following its delisting from the New York Stock Exchange in 2016 after the NYSE announced it allegedly uncovered evidence a “top executive and other intermediaries” artificially inflated the company’s stock price.
PGW said it had nothing to add to a statement it made in May, that the company had been conducting a strategic review of its business, including growth opportunities, capital and balance sheet requirements, and potentially shareholding structure.
Avocado growers are reporting a successful season, but some are struggling to keep their operations afloat following years of bad weather.
It's time to start talking up science again, especially as a career for young people. That's one of the key messages from the Prime Minister's new chief science advisor, Dr John Roche.
Horticulture and commercial vegetable growers in particular stand to be major beneficiaries of radical proposals by government to make sweeping changes to RMA regulations.
Chinese textile company Saibosi has partnered with Wools of New Zealand to put the 'farm to floor' story of New Zealand wool rugs on screen for its customers.
Showcasing the huge range of new technologies and science that is now available was one of the highlights at last week's National Fieldays.
Coby Warmington, 29, a farm manager at Waima Topu Beef near Hokianga was named at the winner of the 2025 Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer Award for sheep and beef.