New Zealand Apple Industry Enjoys Second Strong Season In A Row
The chief executive of Apples and Pears New Zealand, Danielle Adsett, says fruit quality this year is phenomenal and the sector is hitting crop estimates, which is great for growers.
A major cost in getting farms back in operation is re-fencing, given the cost and availability of fence posts.
Coming to the rescue is a Marlborough company called 'RePost' which specialises in recycling posts.
It's the brainchild of Greg Coppell who runs a sheep and beef farm in Marlborough. For the past three years he's set up a company that recycles posts that get snapped off at the ground in local vineyards.
Rather than just throwing these away, Coppell removes any nails or fittings from the posts and turns them into perfectly good fence posts, which sell for about two thirds less than new posts.
He says he's had a call from the Hawke's Bay Regional Council to come to that district and recycle the posts from wrecked vineyards and orchards.
"Our system is mobile and so we may do this on site at the orchard, but the council has offered us some land where we can operate from," he says.
The initial work will be done in Hawke's Bay, but Coppell says they may also operate in the Gisborne district as well.
Horticulture New Zealand’s Board has welcomed the re-election of grower-elected directors Alistair Petrie and Doug Brown.
The bright ideas of New Zealand's primary sector have been celebrated with an announcement of the winners of the 2026 Innovation Awards.
Newly appointed Federated Farmers vice president Sandra Faulkner says she is honoured and excited to hold the role.
New Zealand's top fencers were out in force at National Fieldays this month, demonstrating their skills with the ever-reliable number 8 wire.
New Federated Farmers president Colin Hurst says he will ensure that farmer voices are heard loud and clear wherever decisions are being made.
Paynes Titus Excelsior ET, an LIC bull bred by Brad Payne and Claire Brodie in the Waikato, has won the JT Thwaites Sire of the Season 2026 Award.