New pasture guide launched to support farmers in a changing climate
A new publication has been launched that offers a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on commercially available grazing pasture species in New Zealand.
HORTICULTURE NEW Zealand says it is unbelievable and unexpected that the country is faced with another Queensland fruit fly detection, so soon after the last one in January.
There have now been three detections in less than two years. Prior to May 2012, there had not been a Queensland fruit fly detection in New Zealand for 16 years.
"We have confidence in our system to detect any fruit fly at a very early stage and this system is critical for maintaining international market access for our products," HortNZ chief executive Peter Silcock says.
"But we do have to urgently look at how we are managing the biosecurity risk, so we don't keep finding this pest in our traps."
This is a serious situation for the entire New Zealand horticulture industry and also for all home gardeners.
"This is a pest that we don't want because it will impact on our ability to grow things, export produce and on the 50,000 jobs this industry provides across New Zealand.
"It is in everyone's interest to keep this pest out."
HortNZ knows this will be a tiresome situation for the local residents again caught in the immediate exclusion zones around where the fruit fly was found.
"But it's very, very important that they don't take fruit out of the control zone or swap or give fruit away to friends as often happens at this time of year," says Silcock.
"The two things that need to happen right now are firstly MPI needs to get the traps out in the immediate vicinity of this find and put in place measures to control the movement of host material. We are happy that MPI is swinging into action on that."
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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