Pāmu Braces for $30m Hit From Rising Farm Costs
State farmer Pāmu is bracing for a $30 million hit from soaring farm input costs this financial year.
OPINION: Your old mate sees that state farmer Landcorp is planning a mass planting of trees on a couple of its Otago farms.
According to media reports, Landcorp - or to the more politically correct, Pamū - aims to plant 3,000ha of pine forests on two of its Otago properties, Waipori Station and Thonicroft Station.
Apparently, this is all part of Landcorp's master plan - outlined in its annual report last year - of planting 1,000ha of mainly pine forests a year up until 2030 as part of its 'commitment of sustainable farming'.
But, as a mate of the Hound's points out, has Landcorp not seen the devastation and damage done by forestry slash in the Gisborne region over the past couple of years?
And how does planning swathes of pine trees in an area of the country where wilding pines are a major issue meet its much vaunted claim of sustainable farming?
Good questions!
Farmer-owned fertiliser company, Ballance Agri Nutrients is welcoming National’s plan to negotiate security agreements with key supplier countries to protect New Zealand-bound products from export restrictions and greater supply chain certainty.
Carrfields has announced the appointment of Stu Hall to the newly created role of chief operating officer, Carrfields Ltd, reflecting the continued growth of their agribusinesses and the need to ensure the company has the leadership capacity and support in place as it pursues the emerging opportunities ahead.
New Zealand's role is not to compete with Indian growers, according to NZ Apples and Pears.
The potato industry is celebrating the success of two rising stars - James Blair, the 2026 Young Grower of the Year and runner-up and innovation award winner, Amber Davy.
Twenty-eight emerging leaders from across the horticulture sector spent two days last month learning valuable skills and connecting with industry experts.
There are five entrants in this year’s Young Horticulturist of the Year, competing in a series of technical, practical, business and leadership challenges.

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