Cyclone recovery research aims for better information
Scientists from Plant & Food Research have been collecting data from apple orchards in Hawke’s Bay to better understand the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Pipfruit NZ is changing its name to New Zealand Apples and Pears Inc.
The name change will be launched at the Agricultural Fieldays in Mystery Creek later this month; Pipfruit NZ is exhibiting at the Fieldaysfor the first time.
Pipfruit NZ chief executive Alan Pollard says the old name was causing confusion outside the farming community; the organisation was being linked to oranges and plums because they have pips.
“Pipfruit NZ is only about apples and pears; it worked okay as we used to interface only with growers,” Pollard says.
Nowadays the industry deals with students, potential workers, the Government and international clients.
Pollard says New Zealand Apples and Pears has been chosen as the new name; the logo has also been modified.
He says the new name and logo will be made public at the Fieldays for the first time.
Pollard says the decision to exhibit at the Fieldays is three-fold; tell visitors that NZ is the number one apple industry is the world, reminding school students of careers in the industry and working with machinery importers and dealers on biosecurity issues.
Last month's Agritechnica event led to a wide group of manufacturers celebrating successes when the 2026 Tractor of the Year Competition winners, selected by a panel of European journalists, were announced in Hanover Germany.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.