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According to the latest Situation Outlook for Primary Industries report, all sectors, bar the wine sector, are enjoying rising income.
OPINION: Ministry for Primary Industries' situation outlook for primary industries report (SOPI) makes impressive reading.
All sectors, bar the wine sector, are enjoying rising income as global demand for New Zealand's high-quality, safe, and sustainable products remain strong.
The report forecasts food and fibre export revenue to reach a record $59.9 billion in the year to 30 June 2025, rising to a further record $65.9 billion in the year to 30 June 2029.
Dairy export revenue will rise 16% to reach a record $27.0 billion, meat and wool export revenue increasing 8% to $12.3 billion, horticulture export revenue growing by a phenomenal 19% to $8.5 billion and forestry export revenue jumping 9% to $6.3 billion.
Breaking down into smaller hort sectors: apple and pear exports for 2025 are forecast to surpass the $1 billion milestone, driven by increases in export volume, kiwifruit exports are forecast to rise by 36% in the year to 30 June 2025, reaching $3.9 billion, avocado export revenue is forecast to rise 192% to $108 million in the year to 30 June 2025, and cherry exports netted a record export revenue of $124 million, up 35% from the previous season. Vegetable export revenue is forecast to grow 8% this season, reaching $770 million.
The figures reflect the strength and resilience of the people who deliver them.
And what farmers, growers and producers need is the Government's backing. To its credit, the Government has focused on restoring confidence in the sector, lifting on-farm productivity and profitability, and cutting the red tape that's been holding rural New Zealand back.
However, more needs to be done. Land use policies that stifle growth of primary sector businesses and favouring urban development over farming on productive land must change. We've had a decade of policy that has favoured forestry over farming, incentivising planting radiata, particularly for carbon revenue. On top of that, excessive red tape and layers of impractical and poorly consulted-on regulation have strangled farming confidence and investment.
The SOPI report shoes that when our rural communities do well, the whole country benefits. That's why we're making sure our farmers and growers have the tools and support they need to succeed - not just today, but for the long-term prosperity of New Zealand.
The Government must ensure that it's supporting - not stifling - innovation and growth for farmers and growers.
Testing confirms H5 bird flu in a single northern giant petrel, found dead on a remote Cape Palliser beach in the Wairarapa, says Dr Mary van Andel, the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) Chief Veterinary Officer.
The apple sector is working with the Government to unlock access to two key markets that could bring millions in revenue for apple growers.
A Palmerston North shearer has been sentenced to six months' community detention and 12 months' supervision after being found to have physically abused three lambs while shearing them.
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The country's second largest milk processor is warning against 'complacency' during a review of competition regulations in the dairy sector.
Applications are set to open for the 2027 Zanda McDonald Award, a trans-Tasman award recognised for identifying and fast-tracking talented young leaders in agriculture and agribusiness.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are calling for investment in a proposed new training pathway for rural GPs, warning that many rural practices are struggling to recruit while a large share of the existing workforce nears retirement.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
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