MSA triumph
OPINION: Methane Science Accord, a farmer-led organisation advocating for zero tax on ruminant methane, will be quietly celebrating its first foray into fertiliser co-operative governance.
Both major fertiliser co-operatives have dropped their prices as farmers start planning for spring.
Ballance came out last week, reducing the price of urea by $100/tonne to $795/t. It’s granular urea product SustaiN is $100/t cheaper, now priced at $844/t. Superphosphate drops $50/t to settle at $424/t.
Ravensdown has followed by dropping urea’s price by $100/t to $799/t. Superphosphate drops by $45/t to $429/t while Ravensdown’s coated urea product, N-Protect is now $100 cheaper and priced at $848/t.
Ballance sales manager Jason Minkhorst told Rural News that it was great to see prices start tracking to these levels.
“Driver is reduced demand globally on back of high prices and increased supply: watchout is global demand may bounce back and supply is still a risk. “However, we wanted to give our farmers confidence for spring accordingly we made some bold moves to help with on farm costs.”
Ravensdown chief customer officer Gary Bowick told farmers that while international commodity prices remain relatively volatile and some prices appear to be firming, they understand the need to meet the market and offer competitive prices for our customers.
Westpac NZ has announced new initiatives that aim to give customers more options to do their banking in person.
New Zealand red meat exports experienced a 29% increase year-on-year in September, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
The head of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity operation, Stuart Anderson, has defended the cost and the need for a Plant Healht and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) being built in Auckland.
BNZ says its new initiative, helping make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking a little easier, is being well received by customers and rural professionals.
The head of Fonterra's R&D facility in Palmerston North is set to literally cross the road and become the new vice chancellor at Massey University.
Allan Freeth, chief executive of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has announced he is resigning.

OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…
One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…