Horticulture presents a major opportunity for this country, says Barry O’Neil, new chairman of Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ).

The latest in rural communications will again be high on the agenda at the East Coast Farming Expo.

Rural insurer FMG has lifted the lid on its claims for quad crashes.

Innovative new products using wool and hemp fibre will be developed under a new partnership between NZ Yarn and Hemp NZ.

The public are a lot more aware and educated about water and the environment, according to IrrigationNZ’s newly appointed chief executive Elizabeth Soal.

Well-known Auckland kumara grower Fay Gock, the winner of horticulture’s Bledisloe Cup in 2013, died just before Christmas on December 21, aged 85.

The unusually wet summer so far means a flush of feed NZ-wide, says Alliance Group chairman Murray Taggart.

Canterbury farmer John Nicholls last month became the second farmer-nominated candidate to win a seat on Fonterra’s board.

New Zealand commodity prices are likely to feel downward pressure over the year, says ASB senior rural economist Nathan Penny.

Fonterra will offload its Farm Source livestock business to family-owned business Carrfields Livestock on March 1.