Lower North Island farmers “cautiously optimistic” heading into winter – DairyNZ
Cautiously optimistic is how DairyNZ's regional manager for the lower North Island, Mark Laurence describes the mood of farmers in his patch.
The main beneficiaries of the EU FTA will be kiwifruit, onions, honey, wine and seafood.
The horticultural sector will have $46 million in tariffs slashed from day one, while honey exporters will benefit from the phased removal of the 17% over three years, and for mānuka honey rights from day one.
NZ's two main exports - dairy and meat - have not gained the access they were hoping for. However, butter gets 36,000 tonnes of quota - phased in over seven years. While small in NZ terms, it equates to around 60% of the EU's total annual butter imports. Cheese will have improved access, growing from just over 6,000 tonnes to 31,000 tonnes over seven years.
Beef access again is small, but perhaps understandable given that the EU is a major beef producer. The quota will progressively go to 10,000 tonnes over seven years with a reduced tariff quota.
NZ sheep meat exporters will have access to an additional duty-free quota to the EU growing to 38,000 tonnes over 6 years. This is on top of existing duty-free WTO quota access to the EU of 125,769 tonnes.
The heart wants what the heart wants - and River Foster knew that he wanted to be working outdoors, not in cardiology.
Over 240 growers, industry leaders and guests from across the country gathered in Gisborne last month to attend the inaugural Citrus New Zealand Awards dinner celebrating excellence in the sector.
Tomato growers are facing a challenge like never before over the rising cost of energy and the uncertainty of supply.
It's been a fantastic season so far.
A US-based company developing a vaccine to reduce methane emissions in cattle has received another capital injection from New Zealand’s agriculture sector.
Wools of New Zealand has signed a partnership agreement with a leading Chinese manufacturer as the company looks to further grow demand in China and globally.
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