Record Kiwifruit Harvest Brings Optimism, but Green Growers Face Profitability Challenges
Signs for the 2026-27 kiwifruit crop look good, but there are still some challenges for growers – especially those who produce green kiwifruit.
The stalled merger proposal between EastPack and Satara is now back on the table after the Satara Board of Directors unanimously agreed to ask their shareholders in one of the special interest groups for a second vote.
This follows that sector group narrowly voting the merger down last Friday by 0.2% below the required 75% threshold.
Overall, 85% of Satara shareholders who voted were in favour of the proposed merger, while 97% of the EastPack shareholders voted for the merger.
Chairmen of the two companies, Ray Sharp and Hendrik Pieters said that the most pleasing aspect is that the whole Satara Board now supports the merger whereas three directors were previously opposed.
The meeting date of the new vote is March 14 but only for Special Interest Group 2. The EastPack and the four other Satara interest groups won't be required to vote again as they've already indicated overwhelming support for the merger.
Certainty and a clear understanding of the needs of rural communities is a critical outcome in the series of government reforms that are taking place at present.
Fonterra has reduced its forecast 2026/27 Farmgate Milk Price.
New Zealand dairy farmers are set to be the first in the world to receive access to a new digital physical milk pricing tool that enables them to fix the price for their physical milk.
State farmer Pāmu is opening its farm gates this summer in an effort to give the rural sector the opportunity to see how large-scale, multi-system farming is delivering productivity and profitability across New Zealand.
A five-year study has found that the cost of reducing emissions without technology may be significant and unsustainable for Northland dairy farmers.
DairyNZ says Waikato farmers need certainty on Plan Change 1, but they say that certainty must be matched with practical, workable rules and a clear transition that doesn't get ahead of the new resource management system currently under review.

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