Helensville Farmers Win Auckland Supreme Award at Ballance Farm Environment Awards
Helensville farmers, Donald and Kirsten Watson of Moreland Pastoral, have been named the Auckland Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Rural residents with unwanted agricultural chemicals or other hazardous waste are being encouraged by Auckland Council to sign-up for an onsite collection this month.
During the 'agricultural chemicals amnesty' from February 20-24, the council will collect a range of agricultural chemicals for safe disposal, along with other hazardous waste by prior approval.
Registrations for the free service must be made prior to February 13 by calling 0800 426 5169.
"We know many farmers, growers and lifestyle block owners have stockpiles of unwanted or old agricultural chemicals. With this service we are making it easy for them to ensure this hazardous waste is disposed of safely," says Auckland Council solid waste business unit manager Jon Roscoe.
The council will accept agricultural chemicals including herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and drenches, but not fertilisers. Persistent organic pollutants such as such as PCBs, PCP, DDT, 2,4,5T and a range of out-of-manufacture chemicals will also be accepted. Non-agricultural chemicals, such as used engine oil, and other hazardous items may also be accepted by prior arrangement.
DairyNZ says Waikato farmers need certainty on Plan Change 1, but they say that certainty must be matched with practical, workable rules and a clear transition that doesn't get ahead of the new resource management system currently under review.
While the Government has moved quickly to make commercial hauliers' lot easier during the current fuel crisis, they appear to be stuck in the creep box when it comes to the agricultural industry.
Waikato farmers have been told that the Government’s new planning system legislation and the region’s Plan Change 1 (PC1) “won’t mesh together very well”.
Farmer owned co-operative Ravensdown has signed a two-year naming rights sponsorship of the Canterbury A&P Show.
OPINION: Confidence in the wool sector is rebounding as prices hit levels not seen in more than 15 years.
More than 300 growers, exporters, researchers, service providers and industry leaders will descend on Queenstown later this month for EXPO 2026, the annual conference for New Zealand’s apple and pear sector.

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