Halter goes global, but NZ farmers remain core to innovation
Virtual fencing company Halter is going global but for founder Craig Piggott, New Zealand farmers will always remain their main partners.
AGRICULTURAL FIELDAYS 2014 will be a measure of how the agribusiness sector is gearing up to capitalise on growing export opportunities, according to New Zealand's largest agricultural lender, ANZ New Zealand.
"With an economic recovery in full swing and growing export demand for New Zealand agricultural products, the scene is set for farmers to again invest in the technology that will drive productivity," said Graham Turley, ANZ's managing director commercial & agri.
"Agri-business is New Zealand's most productive and successful business sector and it achieves this through ongoing investment in market leading technology. Agri businesses are only as successful as they are because they constantly innovate.
"This is why Fieldays plays such an important role. Increasingly it is an event where those who drive New Zealand's agricultural success go shopping for the ideas and technologies that lead to profitable, sustainable businesses with a clear pathway to growth, Turley says.
"New Zealand has the potential to capture $1.3 trillion more in agricultural exports between now and 2050. To realise that opportunity there is a need for up to $NZ340 billion in international and domestic investment to enable production growth and support farm turnover."
ANZ will be getting behind National Fieldays again as a strategic partner. ANZ is not only New Zealand's largest on-farm lender, but it is also the largest bank to agri supplier industries, processors and exporters. Its strategic partnership with Fieldays reflects ANZ's broad and long-term commitment to New Zealand agriculture.
"We've been sponsoring Fieldays for around 40 years, during which time millions have attended what has become a landmark event for agriculture in this country, and internationally," Turley says.
Federated Farmers says it is cautiously welcoming signals from the Government that a major shake-up of local government is on its way.
Ashburton cropping and dairy farmer Matthew Paton has been elected to the board of rural services company, Ruralco.
The global agricultural landscape has entered a new phase where geopolitics – not only traditional market forces – will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices, and production decisions.
National Lamb Day is set to return in 2026 with organisers saying the celebrations will be bigger than ever.
Fonterra has dropped its forecast milk price mid-point by 50c as a surge in global milk production is putting downward pressure on commodity prices.
The chance of a $10-plus milk price for this season appears to be depleting.

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