James Blair Named 2026 Young Grower National Champion
James Blair, an agronomist for AS Wilcox and the Pukekohe regional champion, has won the 2026 Young Grower national title.
Nominations are open for three positions on the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board.
Three director positions are available this year, following the retirement of Barry O'Neil and Hugh Ritchie - both having completed their maximum terms - and the decision by Kathryn de Bruin to step down.
"Horticulture is a crucial industry for New Zealand, and director elections give growers a real say in the direction of the industry good body," says Bernadine Guilleux, chair of HortNZ.
"We're encouraging growers to think about the candidates who will best reflect the diversity of the sector - from different crops and regions to varied backgrounds and perspectives."
To be eligible, candidates must be active growers, or a director, shareholder, trustee or employee of an active grower.
Nominations close Monday 9 June.
In Dacre, near Invercargill in New Zealand’s South Island, Bruce Dinnington is running a dairy operation unlike any other.
A free online platform aggregating governance vacancies across rural and regional New Zealand has been launched.
Environment Minister Nicola Grigg has announced details of a new rural plastics recycling scheme.
Agricultural drone operators say that a government decision to allow lower-risk drone work without certification won’t lower standards but drive innovation and efficiency.
OPINION: Warning bells are ringing in the arable sector.
Farmgate lamb prices are down by 8%, beef cattle by 4.5% and farm expenditure up by 4.2%.

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…