HortNZ supports new water storage plan
Horticulture New Zealand has welcomed the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s decision to advance plans for a new water storage facility on the Heretaunga Plains.
Horticulture NZ has appointed Mike Chapman as its new chief executive.
Chapman has been chief executive of NZ Kiwifruit Growers Inc since June 2005. He is interim chair of the industry's National Labour Governance Group, serves on a number of kiwifruit industry committees and is a Bay of Plenty Polytechnic councillor.
Chapman trained as a lawyer and his previous appointments include Defence Force solicitor as part of his career in the Royal NZ Navy, chief counsel at the Commerce Commission, professional standards director for the Auckland District Law Society and chief executive of Kiwifruit NZ.
Chapman will start his role with HortNZ on January 18.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.