OPINION: Government, industry representatives and media always state: “our commentary, policy etc., is science based” and “the science is settled”.

Field days are an integral part of the Ahuwhenua competition as they allow members of the public to come and see how each entity has made it through to the finals of this prestigious contest.

Murray McPhail, founder and director of LeaderBrand, has been named a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to horticulture and the Gisborne region in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours List.

The speed of dealing with the damage to infrastructure holds the key as to how well and how quickly the kiwifruit sector will recover from the ravages of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Rabobank has announced an opening farmgate milk forecast of $8.20kg/MS for the 2023/24 season, while also highlighting vastly changed global dairy markets.

Otago sheep and beef farmers Steven and Kellie Nichol won the coveted Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the recent Ballance Farm Environment Awards. As such, they also become the 2023 national ambassadors for sustainable farming and growing.

Farmers are being urged to consider other options to support ewe performance over lambing, following a ban on the sale and use of Bionic Capsules.

The country's export apple crop has taken a big hit as a result of the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Poor infrastructure has the potential to bring the country to its economic knees.

Farmers have been told that an opening forecast milk price of $8/kgMS this season hinges on China’s demand for whole milk powder (WMP) bouncing back.