New Zealand and Ireland Extend $34.5m Climate Research Partnership for Agriculture
Ireland and NZ have concluded a deal to extend a joint research programme on climate change.
A mate of the Hound who recently travelled to Ireland found that country’s airport biosecurity rather lax.
On the flight’s approach to Dublin came a request that passengers involved in agriculture should make themselves known to the Department of Agriculture. This old mutt’s honest mate, after passing the immigration check and collecting his bags, asked an Irish customs official who he should speak to about biosecurity. “What’s biosecurity? I’m looking after border security,” was the reply. Our Kiwi traveller said he was off a farm in NZ, with the potential for disease, etc. “Aw, that’ll be the Department of Agriculture you’ll be wantin’… over there to the right. But I don’t fancy your chances, there’s never anyone there.” Sure enough, no one there; he waited a few minutes but still no one appeared, so our traveller just wandered off.
OPINION: After two long years of hardship, things are looking up for New Zealand red meat farmers.
A casualty of the storm that hit the Bay of Plenty recently was the cancelation of a field day at a leading Māori kiwifruit orchard at Te Puke.
Michael Wentworth has joined the team at Mission Estate Winery, filling the "big shoes" of former Chief Executive Peter Holley, who resigned in September last year, after almost 30 years running the storied Napier venue.
Some arable farmers are getting out of arable and converting to dairy in the faced of soaring fuel and fertiliser prices on top of a very poor growing season.
The New Zealand seed industry has reached a significant milestone with the completion and approval of the new seed certification system.
New Zealand's persimmon season will kick off early this year, with fruit set to hit shelves soon.

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