LeaderBrand Leads with AI Innovation
Major New Zealand fresh produce grower is tapping AI to manage weeds on one of its farms.
MPI and the China Certification and Accreditation Administration co-signed a new Halal Arrangement in Beijing this week
Two formal arrangements signed in China mark a significant step forward in the supply of New Zealand halal meat to China and ongoing agricultural cooperation.
The is the announcement made by Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.
The Ministry for Primary Industries and the China Certification and Accreditation Administration co-signed a new Halal Arrangement in Beijing this week, under which China will recognise New Zealand's halal regulation and certification regime for halal goods exported to China.
"This is a major step forward for New Zealand's halal meat producers, and it marks the first time China has recognised another county's halal regulatory and certification systems," says Guy.
"The arrangement will provide a competitive advantage in China for our red meat producers."
China is New Zealand's number one market for halal certified meat. In the 12 months to September 2015 around 77,672 tonnes of halal certified meat were exported to China, representing 33% of New Zealand's total halal certified exports.
Guy also co-signed a formal arrangement with China's Minister of Agriculture, Han Changfu, for New Zealand and China to develop an Agricultural Growth Partnership (AGP).
"The AGP aims to foster stronger relationships between New Zealand and China's agricultural sectors through coordinated, strategic cooperation.
"This is a public-private partnership that aims to utilise NZ Inc expertise in research and training to work on co-operation activities in areas such as agricultural policy exchange, dairy farmer training, livestock technology, animal health and disease control.
"These signings reinforce the strong and positive relationship we have between the two countries, and are the result of a lot of hard work on both sides."
Operating with a completely different format from conventional tractors and combine harvesters, the NEXAT prime mover combines all steps of crop production in one modular carrier vehicle, from tillage, through seeding to harvesting.
Reports of severe weather forecast to move over the vast majority of New Zealand’s kiwifruit orchards this weekend will be very concerning for a significant number of growers.
Seeka chief executive Michael Franks says while it's still early days in terms of the kiwifruit harvest, things are looking pretty good.
Major New Zealand fresh produce grower is tapping AI to manage weeds on one of its farms.
With arable farmers heading into the busy planting season, increasing fuel and fertiliser prices, driven by the Iranian conflict, are a daily and ongoing concern.
OPINION: After two long years of hardship, things are looking up for New Zealand red meat farmers.

OPINION: If you ask this old mutt, the choice at the next election isn't shaping up as a contest of…
OPINION: A mate of yours says we're long overdue for a reckoning on what value farmers really get for the…