Ōpōtiki grower wins 2025 Kiwifruit Innovation Award
Brett Wotton, an Eastern Bay of Plenty kiwifruit grower and harvest contractor, has won the 2025 Kiwifruit Innovation Award for his work to support lifting fruit quality across the industry.
Zespri is forecasting its revenue from fruit and service payments will be up $155.8 million on last year.
In its August forecast it expects those payments, excluding the loyalty premium, to reach $1.07b for the 2015-16 season.
The current forecast is an increase of $155.8m vs the $915.8m achieved in 2014-15 season. The forecast will be updated this month, then again later in the year.
The August 2015 forecast for Green of $4.87 per tray sits at the lower end of the range previously published (July range $4.80 - $5.20) and compares to $6.01 in the 2014-15 season. But orchard productivity has substantially increased, so the August 2015 forecast per hectare return is $53,841, which is close to the same record return achieved in 2014-15.
August is the first forecast when Zespri puts out tray figures to the industry rather than a range.
The August forecast for Gold orchard gate return is $7.76 per tray, which is at the mid-point of the July range of $7.60 - $7.90 vs $9.80 last year. The per hectare return is forecast at $67,378 vs $73,890 last year.
Green Organic is forecast at $6.75 per tray (July range $6.70 - $7.00) vs $7.37 last year. The per hectare return is forecast at $49,565 vs $43,996 last year. Green14 is at $6.69 per tray (July range $6.50 - $7.10) vs $7.08 last year. The forecast per hectare return is $41,040 vs $29,682 last year.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.

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