Handling specialist Te Pari has developed CollarBoss, a specially designed head-bail system with an integrated neck extender, to offer safe, controlled access when installing or adjusting cow collars.

Designed and manufactured to complement the proven Te Pari C1000 Head-bail – fitted as standard on the company’s manual and pneumatic cattle crushes – the accessory uses hydraulically-operated neck extenders to the front of the head-bail to gently and securely position the cow’s neck, to offer clear access to fit collars without putting operators in harm’s way.

CollarBoss makes the process straightforward and controlled, utilising a hand-operated hydraulic pump, removing the need for a power supply or electric actuation, with the benefit of making the unit suitable for remote set-ups around a property.

Showcased at the recent Southern Field Days, the system was awarded 1st place in the Farm Innovation Awards, recognising the practical value it delivers to farmers considering adopting the use of wearable collar technology. The system can be retrofitted to existing compatible systems, allowing you to upgrade your setup without replacing the entire crush.

Visit www.tepari.com

The Commission says a shortfall would mean that more targets could need to be auctioned in the future to enable the NZ ETS to function well while remaining aligned with emissions targets.

Jo Hendy, chief executive of the Climate Change Commission, says the advice is designed to help the Government make regular updates as needed.

"We've identified a potential future unit shortfall, which is concerning but uncertain," Hendy says. "Our view is that the best option for now is to hold auction settings steady, get ready to act if needed, and reassess next year when better information is available."

She says the recommendations aim to avoid changes that could further unsettle the market.

"While this advice is focused on making the NZ ETS work as well as it can given its existing architecture, bigger reforms are needed for the NZ ETS to be an effective tool in the 2030s. We advise the Government to start developing these reforms carefully and transparently, and with consultation," says Hendy.

Shortfall Risk Could Create Price Volatility

Hendy says that for an ETS to support an orderly transition to meet emissions targets, the emissions price needs to steadily rise over time to encourage the shift to low-emissions options.

"In contrast, a unit shortfall could cause volatile price spikes - which could force emissions reductions through lower production or factory closures rather than upgrading to lower emissions technologies and processes," she says.

"A shortfall could also put the Government under pressure to make ad hoc market interventions, which in the past has been bad for confidence. The Government can get ahead of that by publicly consulting on options to address a future shortfall."

These recommendations are conditional on the next settings advice and update being in 2027, which the Government has recently confirmed will go ahead.

Auction Settings Have Limited Reach

NZ ETS auction settings shape expectations and market confidence, which matters for investment decisions, but they have limited reach. Auctioned units are a small share of total units in the system, and the NZ ETS covers less than half of Aotearoa New Zealand’s emissions. This means settings are important, but not decisive on their own.

"Annual auction settings can’t solve the bigger design challenges with the NZ ETS. The scheme covers around 40% of domestic emissions, and that share is declining," Hendy says.

"Under the current architecture, by the mid-2030s the NZ ETS will struggle to provide an investment signal for either decarbonisation or forestry," she adds.

"We’ve previously advised that the Government needs to start a transparent and consultative process to determine what an effective NZ ETS in the 2030s will look like.

"Investors need credible, well-signalled and consistent policies on the NZ ETS - and on climate change generally - to have confidence that investments in emissions reduction will generate returns."

The system is said to offer lower investment costs, reduced fuel consumption and labour demand, in addition, minimising soil compaction and delivering maximum efficiency and improved profitability.

Featuring a gantry layout, with offset cabin, the Nexco harvesting module was designed to complement the main Nexat unit in 2019, setting the new world record less than seven years later.

Recently, its capability and performance saw a Nexat gantry set a new World Record, by harvesting 637.76t of soybeans off 158.16ha in just eight hours.

Breaking the previous record by 150t, the successful event took place in the Brazilian state of Bahia, utilising a Nexco harvesting module, equipped with a 15.2m FD250 MacDon FlexDraper header.

Operating at an average speed of 13.6kph, average throughput achieved was 79.72t/ hr, at a moisture content of 14%. Fuel consumption was 7.5l/ha with recorded losses of less than 0.5%.

Party leader Helen Houghton says that many New Zealanders are already worried about being pushed out of employment as businesses increasingly turn to low-cost migrant labour.

"New Zealanders were never asked whether they supported an agreement that expands temporary work pathways at a time when many locals are struggling to secure stable employment, but they'll certainly feel the consequences," Houghton says.

"If a trade deal mainly delivers more workers competing for the same jobs, that's not free trade - that's selling out your own workforce," she says.

Concerns Over Jobs and Migration

Houghton says Kiwis are already concerned about pressure on housing, infrastructure and public services.

"New Zealand is already struggling with housing shortages, stretched infrastructure, and growing pressure on health and education services," she says.

"Increasing the number of foreign workers without addressing those pressures risks making the problem worse," she adds.

Houghton's criticism comes a day after the Labour Party announced it would support the deal.

She says the deal shows how the two major parties - National and Labour - are out of touch with the realities of ordinary New Zealanders.

“National and Labour may celebrate this as a diplomatic success, but for many Kiwis the question is simple: what are we actually gaining from it?”

Call for Economic Focus

Houghton argues that trade agreements need to focus on expanding export opportunities for New Zealand businesses and strengthening the economy.

"Trade deals should open markets for our farmers, exporters and innovators - not intensify competition for jobs at home," she says.

The party is calling for greater transparency around the agreement and a clear explanation of how it will benefit New Zealand workers and families.

"New Zealanders deserve trade policies that put their interests first," Houghton concludes.

Labour’s spokesperson on Trade, Damien O’Connor says if National had provided all the information it wanted right at the start they would have signed it off much earlier.

He says Labour has always wanted to be bipartisan on trade and have signed  many such agreements in the past.

“But in this case the problem was not having details throughout the negotiations and when the deal was agreed Labour had to investigate the detail in the deal itself. People in the Labour party  were asking legitimate questions around migration, education and even around the dairy. They wanted to make sure  that migrant workers were not going to be exploited and  that students who come to this country were going to  get legitimate education and not being exploited,” he says.

O’Connor says they had a responsibility to understand the legal rationale and support and advice that sat behind the FTA.

He says they also needed to investigate claims by Winston Peters that it was a bad deal for NZ.

“We checked out these claims and we are satisfied they were not true,” he says.

O’Connor describes the FTA as a step forward with the worlds most populous country and that in the end it will be the role of exporters to extract value from it.

He says government's role is to open doors and let business decide what opportunities best suit them.

Labour’s support for the FTA means that it can now be successfully ratified by the NZ parliament

The FTA is Due to be signed by Trade Minister Todd McClay in Delhi this coming week. The Minister has with him a cross party delegation including MP’s and more than 30 kiwi business representatives

Todd McClay says a trade agreement with India has been a long ambition for New Zealand.

“The signature of the NZ-India FTA is an occasion to celebrate,” he says.

Cameron McIntosh, chief executive of Southland District Council, says Council's priority is maintaining critical infrastructure and services that rely on diesel fuel.

Focus on Power, Water and Wastewater Continuity

One of the most critical areas is electricity generation on Stewart Island Rakiura, where diesel-powered generators are essential for maintaining a stable power supply.

Additionally, several of the district's water and wastewater treatment plants rely on diesel generators as back-up power to operate safely and meet public health requirements.

Council staff are monitoring fuel requirements for these essential services to ensure continuity of supply.

Dedicated Response Team Monitoring Situation

McIntosh says Council has set up a team, which meets weekly, to closely monitor the situation as it evolves, assess risks and co-ordinate the Council's response.

"This team is focused on maintaining oversight so that we can respond quickly to any changes," he says.

Staff have been encouraged to work with a range of practical measures to help reduce fuel demand where possible, including sharing vehicles when travelling across the district, making greater use of online meetings rather than travelling where appropriate, reinforcing efficient driving practices and ensuring Council vehicles maintain adequate fuel levels.

Community Encouraged to Play a Role

The Council is encouraging residents and businesses to consider taking simple steps where they are able.

Recommended actions include:

• Carpooling or sharing transport
• Planning trips efficiently
• Driving smoothly to reduce fuel use

“We want to let our communities know that Council is actively monitoring and managing the situation," says McIntosh.

"Our focus is on protecting essential services like power, water and wastewater while also doing what we can to reduce demand. Small actions by many people can make a real difference,” he adds.

To meet the needs of the New Zealand market, the Te Puke-based importer and distributor, led by industry stalwart Gayne Carroll, has launched the Basak orchard range.

It comes in three versions – the Kiwifruit Special ROPS, designed specifically for NZ kiwifruit conditions, alongside orchard models, in ROPS and air-conditioned cabin layouts.

Established in 1914, European-headquartered Basak is a part of ASKO Holdings, a group of companies in growth mode, who also own other well-known brands such as Versatile Tractors.

Looking at the Basak tractors a little closer, a Tier3, 3-cylinder turbocharged Perkins engine, offers a punchy 80hp, with frugal fuel economy, complemented by an industry-leading 85 litre fuel tank, meaning less down time for refuelling. In turn, this is mated to a mechanical, Synchro transmission with 16 forward/8 reverse speeds, complemented by 4WD, with mechanical rear and limited-slip front diff locks.

At the business end of the tractor, a 3000kg, Cat 2, three-point linkage with hook ends is mechanically controlled, offered with 50 l/min hydraulic flow, two remotes and a 2-speed independent 540/540E system.

The 2080BB “Kiwifruit Special” version, while offering a low comfortable seat height for operators, is fitted with 20-inch wheels for greater ground clearance, improved traction and a faster road speed.

General manager Gayne Carroll says customers were always asking for a more mechanically focused tractor that was simple to operate and not stopped by electronic faults.

“We spent time in Europe looking at options and found that Basak addressed that wishlist, but also offers a price position that sits around 20 – 25% below other European competitors, meaning it’s already generating a lot of interest.”

Complementing the Basak launch, the arrival of the all-new Goldoni Q Series offers engineering excellence and an extensive redesign for ease of use and ultimate operator comfort.

It has the latest Hyundai Doosan 4-cylinder, Tier5 engines offering less emissions, higher performance and fuel savings. Other new features include cruise control, telescopic/tilting steering column and a new 24 forward & 12 reverse synchro shuttle, including a creep range offering speeds from 0.46 to 40kph road speed.

The new “Super Kiwi” Q Series is the first kiwifruit tractor to be able to offer a low seat height, for working under kiwifruit pergolas, with mechanical adjustment of suspension and still fitted on 20” wheels. All kiwifruit models come fitted with full underbody belly pan protection.

The Q Series is available in a Super Kiwi kiwifruit ROPS version, standard orchard ROPS and narrow, low-profile cab and standard cab options. Depending on wheel equipment, this can achieve an overall width as narrow as 1250mm.

As part of the overall package the Q series comes with 2-speed PTO, three rear remotes and hydraulic lift arm levelling, Cat 1& 2 linkage arms, HD front axles, 280-70R16 and 340-65 R20 radial tyres, front weights and a 3-year or 3000-hour warranty.

For info visit www.agtek.co.nz

Following prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries, David Fraser Beck pleaded guilty to three charges under the Animal Welfare Act.

He was sentenced on 22 April after his neglect resulted in more than 200 sheep needing to be euthanised due to starvation, severe flystrike and parasite problems.

Evidence of Severe Welfare Failures

The charges included reckless ill treatment of 219 sheep and failing to treat ill or injured animals.

There was also one representative charge relating to 2,164 sheep for failing to provide proper and sufficient food, to provide preventative flystrike treatment and to diagnose and treat sheep for internal parasites.

MPI district manager of animal welfare and NAIT compliance, Tom Teneti says that when animal welfare inspectors visited the farming operation at Waipiropiro station they found evidence of serious animal welfare offending.

“This included many sheep with active flystrike, 17 of which had to be euthanised immediately to prevent further suffering. Sheep carcasses were found throughout the property," Teneti says.

He says Beck was an experienced farmer but failed to provide the basics - sufficient veterinary treatment and quality feed for his sheep.

Majority of Flock Below Welfare Standards

During subsequent visits to the farm, conducted under a search warrant, animal welfare inspectors had 1,497 sheep examined. 

The body condition of just 59 of these animals met the minimum standards of the Code of Welfare Sheep and Beef Cattle.

“It was clear that these standards, including providing sufficient food and water, were not being met and that preventative or remedial action was not being taken when animals were showing signs of ill health. Mr Beck was failing in his responsibility to these animals," Teneti says.

Infrastructure Failures Compounded Animal Suffering

Teneti says fences and gates on the farm were in disrepair, and some had been pushed over by sheep and cattle.

"An additional 219 sheep had to be euthanised to end their suffering," he says.

“This was serious offending. These animals were suffering a range of problems including broken legs, lameness, severe flystrike, parasites and starvation. They were euthanised to end their pain and suffering.

“Most farmers do the right thing for their animals and take early action where necessary. Mr Beck let these animals down. When we find evidence of poor practice and cruelty, we take action,” Mr Teneti says.

Beck was also ordered to pay $5,000 costs to MPI.

MPI strongly encourages any member of the public who is aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone 0800 008 333. 

The NZIBF says Labour's support is a clear affirmation of the importance of a stable and predictable approach to trade policy.

NZIBF executive director Felicity Roxburgh says that bipartisan support for the agreement provides exporters with greater certainty as they invest and plan for future engagement in the Indian market.

Bipartisan Support Strengthens Export Confidence

Roxburgh says Labour's endorsement reinforces the importance of consistent trade policy in supporting New Zealand’s export-led economy.

"Our ability to compete and sell into global markets underpins jobs, drives incomes, and funds the public services New Zealanders depend on.

"Bipartisan support for this deal gives businesses the confidence to take a long-term view," she says.

Unlocking Access to 1.4 Billion Consumers

The agreement, which is set to be signed in New Delhi on 27 April, was announced at the end of December 2025 and will unlock access to India's 1.4 billion consumers.

"This is about more than market access, it is about the farmers, growers, manufacturers and innovators behind our export sectors, and the communities across New Zealand that depend on them," Roxburgh says.

Roxburgh says the agreement is a critical development in New Zealand's engagement with India, which is a fast growing and strategically important economy.

“India represents a major opportunity. This agreement begins to break down barriers and opens the door to deeper commercial relationships across a wide range of sectors," she says.

“In a world shaped by rising protectionism and geopolitical tension, standing still is not an option. Securing improved access to markets like India strengthens New Zealand’s resilience, spreads risk, and ensures our exporters remain competitive.”

“We are focused on working constructively with government to ensure New Zealand businesses are well positioned to take full advantage of the opportunities this agreement creates, and that these are translated into real commercial outcomes for exporters.”

NZ Winegrowers See Opportunity in Deal

New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) says it also represents Labour's support for the agreement.

NZW chief executive Philip Gregan says maintenance of bipartisan alignment on trade is very positive.

“India represents a significant long-term opportunity for New Zealand wine, and sustained cross-party commitment will be key to delivering a high-quality agreement with real commercial outcomes," Gregan says.

“We value the constructive approach taken across Parliament and the shared recognition of trade as a driver of growth, jobs, and regional prosperity,” he concludes.

The exhibition and conference, scheduled for July, showcases agricultural machinery, farming technology and practical solutions for future farming in Australia. It will now be held next year.

The decision comes after extensive consultation with farmers and exhibitors in response to the ongoing global fuel crisis, as well as fertiliser shortages and the significant impact it is having on Australian farmers and the broader agricultural sector.

New Zealand Fieldays chief executive Richard Lindroos told Rural News that he wasn't surprised by the decision of FutureAg organisers.

"Events come and go," Lindroos says.

He says the National Fieldays is preparing in earnest for the four-day event at Mystery Creek.

On the possible impact of the geopolitical situation and fuel supplies on the Fieldays, Lindroos says they are "aligned with government" on that.

Under the New Zealand Government's National Fuel Plan, rationing measures would be taken if fuel supplies start running dry.

Resembling the Covid alert levels, the plan has four 'phases'. New Zealand is at phase one.

Phase 2 would see homes, businesses and the public sector encouraged to conserve fuel.

The higher phases are still under consultation.

Phase 3 would see fuel prioritised for life-preserving services and phase 4 would see stricter intervention in fuel distribution.

Moving up or down levels is decided by a ministerial oversight group based on fuel stocks, restrictions and supply chain data.

Latest government figures show the country counted 59.7 days of petrol, 49.1 days of diesel and 50.7 days of jet fuel as part of its stocks.

However, in Australia many farmers are currently facing sharply increased operational costs, higher uncertainty and greater day-to-day pressures, making it difficult for them to commit the time and resources required to attend an exhibition in 2026.

As the uncertainty for farmers increases, the organisers also note that machinery manufacturers, importers and dealers are facing increased freight costs and longer transit times for machinery imports, leaving them with reduced planning reliability.

With the premise to serve the agriculture industry, this decision reaffirms that priority, while as a show of support, DLG (German Agricultural Society) and Hannover Fairs Australia, co-organisers, will jointly donate $5,000 to Rural Aid, Australia's leading charity supporting farmers, their families and rural communities.

"We will relaunch the event in 2027, ensuring it takes place under conditions that support strong engagement from farmers," adds Jens Kremer DLG Markets GmbH, managing director.

Tim Bostridge, managing director of Hannover Fairs Australia, says that FutureAg is built to create tangible value for farmers and agribusiness.

"That's why we are committed to delivering the event at a time when the industry can fully benefit from the innovation, investment, and connections it enables."

Returning to Mystery Creek, Hamilton, 10–13 June, South Island ticket buyers will automatically go in the draw to win a $2,000 cashback to help cover travel costs, making it easier than ever before to be part of Fieldays.

“We know it’s a big commitment to travel from the South Island, so we wanted to give people a real incentive to join us,” says New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Richard Lindroos.

The $2,000 cashback prize is designed to help offset the costs of flights, accommodation, and travel. Tickets purchased before May 11 will automatically go into the draw to win.

“We have Hamilton Airport on our doorstep, and it is not only a great opportunity to come to Fieldays but stay and have a look around the mighty Waikato region and enjoy local hospitality,” says Lindroos.

More than 1,200 exhibitors will showcase their products and services, with sites nearly sold out. Visitors can expect a diverse and engaging experience, from cutting-edge agri-tech and advanced farm machinery to artisan food and new-to-market vehicles. A wide range of financial and insurance solutions will also be on display.

The introduction of a new Fieldays Function Centre located on the Village Green will create additional opportunities for businesses to host innovative and engaging functions during the event.

A strong lineup of feature areas will give visitors the opportunity to explore emerging technologies, career pathways, sector insights, and the latest developments shaping the future of agriculture and rural industries. These are showcased across the Fieldays Hubs, including Innovation, Careers & Education, Forestry, Hauora Taiwhenua Health & Wellbeing, Rural Advocacy, and the Drone Zone.

Several key features are also reaching important milestones, with the Fieldays® Hauora Taiwhenua Health & Wellbeing Hub celebrating its 10-year anniversary and the Fieldays® Forestry Hub marking five years as part of the Fieldays programme.

Competition highlights include Tractor Pull, Fencing and Excavator Competitions. These features continue to celebrate capability, skill, and a strong sense of grassroots entertainment, providing popular entertainment for visitors.

Families will find no shortage of action in the Fieldays Family Fun Zone. Packed with free, hands‑on activities, the zone invites kids and parents alike to scale the rock wall, try the bungy trampoline, test their swing on the golf simulator, or burn off energy on the inflatables.

Just steps away, families can wander through the Heritage Village, where highlights include the historic church, the old Kihikihi jail, and the National Dairy Museum. For those interested in rural art, The Fieldays Creative Space, also located in the Heritage Village, offers visitors a chance to slow down and engage with the creative side of rural life, celebrating storytelling and humour inspired by artist David Henshaw. The space showcases artworks, exhibitions and creative displays that reflect rural heritage, landscapes and lived experiences, providing a thoughtful contrast to the event’s technology and innovation focus.

Visitors can get involved with voting for their favourite Fieldays Innovation Awards via the kiosk in the Innovation Hub and Exhibitor Site Awards through the official Fieldays App.

The Gate Prize also returns, supported by JAC and Stoney Creek. Every personalised ticket that comes through the gates is a chance to win a JAC T9 Ute (RRP $49,990) and $10,000 of Stoney Creek gear. Visitors can triple their chances of winning during the event by visiting the JAC site at I30 and Stoney Creek at site F55.

General admission tickets are priced online at $36 for a one-day adult pass and $18 for a one-day child pass, with free entry for children under five. A family pass is available for $108. Ample free parking is available and limited VIP parking can also be purchased, giving visitors access through Gate A on Airport Road, just steps from the North Entry.

As part of ticket purchasing for 2026, customers have the option to donate during checkout to the Rural Support Trust.

“We’re proud to continue our long-standing relationship with Rural Support Trust through our donation initiative. Donations support the Trust’s vital work providing practical assistance and wellbeing support to farming families and rural communities across New Zealand," says Lindroos.

Also on sale is the Fieldays® Business Lounge ticket, brought to you by One NZ. This premium ticket option includes access to an all-inclusive lounge, VIP parking, complimentary meals, barista and beverage service, and dedicated meeting spaces with workstation facilities.

ickets are on sale now at http://www.fieldays.co.nz/.

The prevalence of drench resistance in cattle in New Zealand may not be as well understood as that in sheep, but there’s a high likelihood it is present, and farmers should be vigilant, says Zoetis veterinary advisor, livestock, Victoria Chapman.

Protecting youngstock, which are the future of our herds, is particularly important and the first step is always feeding animals well, which minimises parasites.

“That’s why monitoring is also so important. If they have been on high grazing residuals, maxed out their growth rates and they are exactly where you want them to be, do you really need to drench them? Maybe you just do some or leave them for another week,” she explains.

A combination of weighing stock, faecal egg counts (FEC) and analysing the grazing history of animals should all factor into decision making on farm.

While FEC is important, it cannot be taken in isolation. “It is another valuable tool, taken into consideration with weights and pasture covers and how they are looking. It’s about using your stockmanship.”

Chapman explains that for cattle, the peak larval challenge on pasture happens later than for sheep, and is generally in late autumn and early winter. Each farm is different, and weather and when animals were born influence peak challenge times. A dairy platform where there are only adult cows will also be different.

Traditionally, preventative treatment focused on treating animals every month to avoid a large peak, but times have changed and our approach needs to adapt to reflect that.

“The less parasites animals face, the better. It’s even more important for young and more susceptible animals to avoid a big challenge as they are more at risk than older, more immune ones. However, if pastures are very wormy, a long-acting drench used tactically at this time can be beneficial, as it protects them for longer. Ideally, we should not need to drench adult cows, that should be the bottom line, if they are in good condition and well fed, such as good conditioned beef cows.”

Chapman says for beef cows, the exception to the no-drench rule could be a first calver needing extra protection from parasites.

Dairy is different as adult cows tend to not be in as good a condition as an adult beef cow. “Those cows that are dried off early are dried off for a reason; they are not as fat and fabulous as their herd mates who are still milking, or they may have mastitis. I would treat those animals. There are always exceptions, but I would be aiming to not blanket treat the herd.”

Chapman says it is okay to drench, if it is warranted, and it is a valuable tool in the toolkit if used wisely to improve production and aid in tight spots in the season.

“Drenches are a great tool, but they are only good as long as they are working, and the longer they are working, the better.”

Follow 'Farmed'

This is the acronym Wormwise, our national parasite management body recommend (feed, avoid, refugia, monitor and effective drenching).

Feed. Ensure susceptible or young animals get good feed quality and quantity. Grazing higher residuals also keeps susceptible animals out of the parasite zone, or at least minimises their exposure. Use older stock classes to maintain pasture quality.

Avoid the parasites. The earlier point also covers this but it’s also about using older or different stock classes to vacuum up infective larvae to clean up paddocks. Or graze young animals on crops where there are less larvae. Refugia is a key point- leaving some animals untreated to enable susceptible parasites to reproduce. It’s a bit counterintuitive for production but can help delay resistance. Monitoring with FECs, assessing drench efficacy, weights, pasture residuals etc and making decisions on actual data, rather than the calendar or best guess is also key. Finally, use an effective drench and use it well (check dose delivery of gun, animal weights etc). Any drench is valuable if it is effective, so know what works on your farm.

Article - Zoetis

The funding will help accelerate wallaby control work during the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years, reducing the risk of wallabies spreading into new areas and avoiding much higher long-term control costs.

It builds on previous investment and ensures earlier gains aren't lost at a critical point in the programme.

South Canterbury/Ōtuhituhi Councillor Nick Ward says wallabies are one of the most significant biosecurity threats facing Canterbury.

"This is urgent, we must act now with a huge knock-down, not a band aid approach," Ward says.

He says the boost is a "wise use" of the reserve funds.

"A dollar spent now is ten dollars saved later on," he says.

Peter Scott, another South Canterbury/Ōtuhituhi says local knowledge and coordination is important.

“I know two people who recently shot 200 wallabies over two days. This is a pest and it's destructive. It’s also a huge area we’re dealing with so we need to work with the community to find a local solution for a local problem. I’m pleased the Council has supported this, which will ultimately benefit the whole region and country," Scott says.

“If left unchecked, wallaby spread would have serious consequences for biodiversity, productive land, and neighbouring regions. Acting now enables us to protect both local communities and the substantial public investment already made,” he adds.

The investment will be used for a coordinated package of work across the containment area, including new exclusion fencing, expanded aerial and ground control, maintenance operations and enhanced monitoring and landowner engagement.

The funding comes from the Council’s Pest Management Reserve. The policy sets a target balance of $1 million, allowing surplus funds to be reinvested into urgent pest management activity without the need to increase rates.

The work also complements central government investment through the Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme, under which nearly $14 million has already been invested in Canterbury.

The Council will receive progress updates on delivery at the end of each financial year, while longer‑term funding options for wallaby management, including targeted rates, will be considered through the Long‑Term Plan 2027–37.

Owned by Rimanui Farms Limited, the original Erewhon Station was purchased in 1992, followed by Springdale in 1994. From 1996 to 2005, both units were run as one, before some of Erewhon was absorbed by Springvale, resulting in the two blocks that operate today.

Erewhon is currently 3600 effective hectares, with 60% to the north and 40% south of the highway. The contour is described as 30% steep hill, 40% medium hill country and the remainder dubbed as easy land.

The main buildings are located at 850 metres above sea level, the northern ‘flats’ sitting at around 500 metres, with the highest point at 1000m. Annual rainfall is a rather surprising 850mm, explained by living in the shadow of the mountain. The majority of stock water is collected via dams and waterways, with a small part of the property having access to reticulated water.

Winters are described as tough, lasting a full 150 days from May 1st to 30th September, with pasture growth averaging 10 kgDM per day.

Erewhon is managed by James Maher, one of nine staff, including a stock manager, four single shepherds, two general farm workers and a cook. The team is complemented by a farm technician who operates across the company’s three Taihape properties, alongside casual labour brought in as necessary.

James says winters can be brutal, “while we also have to deal with the unique shape of the station, that means stock may have to walk up to 12km, to the central, single woolshed for shearing, as using trucks is not practical given the hilly topography”.

Due to a pasture deficit over winter, great emphasis is placed on May 1st pasture covers alongside a strong reliance on accurate feed budgeting of winter crops and bought-in supplements.

Typically, a tough winter is followed, in James’ words, “by an explosive spring, that means we have high winter stocking rates to take advantage of the spring flush, both in terms of feed utilisation and maintaining pasture quality”. Currently, that winter stocking rate sits at 11.5 SU/ha.

Erewhon’s sheep operation sees 5000 “B” ewes and 6-year olds covered by Rimanui-bred Suftex rams on 1st April, 7000 “A” ewes covered by Pahiwi Romsey rams on 29th April and 4500 two-tooths mated to Pahiwi-Romney cross rams on 29th April. Finally, 5000 replacement hoggets are weighed in May, with around 3500 animals of more than 42kg mated to Suflex rams around the middle of the month.

Lambing performance across all MA and two-tooths consistently sits at 145-150% to the ram, while hogget performance sits at 80%. Overall production sees around 22,000 trade lambs, alongside 5000 replacements. Stores versus prime numbers depends on feed levels, as well as store price levels, but typically the target is to finish between 60 and 80% of animals at 18kg before the start of May, when all lambs need to be away from the property.

Looking at shearing, ewes are shorn once a year in late January, lambs are shorn in February, then hoggets are shorn again in early September. Two-tooth animals are shorn in late March, then eventually fit into the typical shearing rotation.

On the cattle front, 1300 in-calf Angus cattle are over-wintered, made up of 250 R2 first-calving heifers and 1050 MA cows. These numbers include a fully recorded stud herd, including 270 females that are synchronised for AI annually. 70 bulls are sold to the other Rimanui farms as yearling or R2s in May, as well as 15 bulls retained for commercial use at Erewhon.

All steers are finished between 2 to 2.5 years old at a target carcase weight of 315kg. Replacement heifers for the herd are selected using modern genomic technology, while all surplus heifers are sold as stores in autumn.

Pasture Management

Cropping and supplementary feed sees around 80ha of a swede/kale mix grown for winter feed, complemented by 40ha of straight kale for winter feed, but with the option of summer grazing for lambs as required. 80ha of Raphno - the kale and radish hybrid - is used for lamb feed through summer, then locked up for winter feed. Currently, the farm is trialling plantain for improved feed quality and volumes at either end of the season.

New grass cultivators are drilled depending on how individual paddocks fit into the overall rotation. 150ha of pasture is cut for baleage or clamp in December, while around 100 tonnes of palm kernel is fed as a supplement to two-year old steers.

The station fertiliser policy comprises of a DAP application if, as James explains, “it warms up early enough”, followed by between 30 to 40kg of nitrogen, depending on price, applied by plane using a nearby airstrip.

Pasture management also use a “chemical topping technique” using low-dose glyphosate applied in early November, when cover levels sit at 1200 to 1300kg DM/ha, knocking grass growth back, but promoting improved clover growth, providing valuable feed reserves two months later in January for weaning.

“We have to use a reasonable amount of nitrogen to grow the grass we need, while our greatest agronomy challenge is dealing with thistles,” says James. “Without a doubt, throughout the year our planning is always focused at looking 90 days ahead, with a need to ensure we set up the next block of feed, which in turn then drives all our selling decisions.”

She was in NZ recently as a keynote speaker at Massey University’s Farmed Landscape Research Centre Conference. While in NZ she was looking at how we are developing farmer-run catchment groups which Ireland is in the process of setting up.

Ryan is a specialist in agricultural economics and works for Teagasc – the Irish agricultural research organisation based near Galway in the west of Ireland.

She says Ireland and NZ have very similar issues with nitrates leaching into lighter soils in the east of the country. But she says they have overland flow, phosphorus, sediment and pesticides that largely happens in the poorer, heavier soils and steeper country in the west coast of the Ireland where there is much more organic matter such as peat. These soils retain a lot of moisture which leads to overland flow.

The EU sets the standards that member countries must achieve, but how they do this is left to the individual country. The issue for Ireland, says Dr Ryan, is similar to NZ – ensuring higher quality waterways and looking at ways of doing this. Obvious options include stock exclusion and reducing pollutants on the land.

Ireland has identified 97 priority catchments that need special attention and it’s to these that scientists are sent to determine the cause of the problem and the associated risks. Their findings are passed on to a group of Agricultural Sustainability, Support and Advisory Programme advisors (ASSAP) whose role is to engage with the farmer to get them to deal with any problem.

“Firstly, the ASSAP advisor prepares a dedicated farm plan, where they look at what’s happening in farmers’ yards and where the risks are, what is happening terms of nutrient management planning and seeing if they can they pull back in the application of chemical fertilisers.

“They also look to see if the farmer needs more storage for slurry, because in Ireland, we house animals the winter and sometimes we have very wet land coming out of the winter, so it’s not always possible to get slurry out into the land,” she says.

Ryan says having got all this data, the onus is now on the farmer to decide what mitigation strategies to adopt. While advisors can advise, she says the more effective way is to involve what “champion farmers” – highly successful, innovative and respected farmers who help and mentor other farmers to make appropriate changes.

“The advisors do a dedicated farm plan in which they look at what’s happening in farmers yard and where the risks are,” she says.

Ryan says the farm plan is free, but the farmers don’t get any money for the mitigation work; that’s where the challenge begins and where the role of ‘champion farmers’ becomes important. She says in the first instance they are the ones most likely to understand the complexity of the issues and know that they have the wherewithal to do what is required.

“Those who feel that they may not do a good job and are fearful of what their fellow farmers may say about them are less likely to get involved at the beginning. So, they will look to someone they respect and who is already doing the work well to motivate them to give it a go,” she says.

Ryan adds that the most successful farmer champions in influencing others are locals, not someone a hundred kilometres away who the local farmers don’t know. She says getting the local expert out on site and explaining the issues they’ve had to deal with, and the associated costs, is the best way of effecting the change in farmer behaviour on environmental issues.

Catchment Groups

Dr Mary Ryan says there is a strong move in Ireland to develop catchment groups which are organised and led by farmers.

She says one of the reasons for coming to NZ was to see how our farmer-led catchment groups are run and how effective they are.

Ryan says it is critical to make sure these are farmer led and well run but supported by scientists and other rural professionals.

She says in Ireland dairy farmers have taken the initiative and set up their own effective systems of dealing with environmental issues on their farms and are not claiming any government money to this. Ryan says they have access to catchment maps and are monitoring water quality themselves

While in NZ, Ryan has spent time talking to catchment groups in both the North and South Island.

“In the Manawatu I saw Dr Margaret Brown, who is a scientist and a very successful farmer and who’s involved in a very successful catchment group. In the South Island it was about going to Canterbury and meeting catchment groups in the upland regions,” she says.

Ryan says the visit to NZ was very successful and the research being carried out in Ireland and NZ is very complementary. She says by sharing information, they are able to progress research much faster for the benefit of both countries.

The Prime Minister's Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council was given a mandate by the Government to review the present system and to come up with a new set of priorities to build a strategic future focused system for science, innovation and technology (SI&T). This links in with other recent changes to the structure and merger of government science institutes.

In its report, the council says government SI&T spending must, among many things, deliver high quality and internationally benchmarked research and attract global partnerships and respond to end user needs.

It also says any research must be relevant to NZ's needs, ensure that great ideas emerge and build a diverse future-ready SI&T workforce.

The Government's chief science advisor Dr John Roche, who is a member of the Council, told Rural News that the changes are about providing very clear guidelines on where the $1.7 billion in govermment money should be invested. In its report, the council notes that in the past funding has been fragmented, lacked strategic focus, was weak on commercialisation and struggled to develop, attract and retain good people.

Roche says the new system is about getting in behind those areas that NZ can grow to make the biggest difference, doing less better and creating a more flexible and nimble system for high impact areas.

"So those areas that are high risk but potentially high reward. Our funding hasn't really catered for that in the past, so there is a good opportunity there. Key is changing the narrative from funding research to investing in outcomes and a recognition that we underinvest in advanced technologies. There is a significant opportunity to grow our capability in that space," he says.

To that end, the council has set four thematic pillars for government-funded science; primary industry and the bioeconomy; technology for prosperity; environmental sustainability and resilience; and health people and a thriving society. Within this mix will be a greater emphasis than before on funding competitively funded, curiosity-driven research. In other words, more futuristic research and advanced technologies.

The council's report notes that under the present system there is a bias towards funding agriculture and environmental research, which it says is a "misalignment with emerging opportunities and international benchmarks". It's possible that some of the money currently invested in these areas will be allocated over time to boost funding for "advanced technologies", but agriculture may be an ultimate beneficiary of this.

New Funding

At present, MBIE is the decision maker when it comes to dispensing government money for science. Over the years, there have been constant complaints by scientists and researchers about the complexity and bureaucratic nature of the system and the time and cost of putting in bids. But this is set to change with the establishment of Research Funding NZ (RFNZ).

John Roche says the present funding process is rigid, with allocations only being made annually and everything lined up to that date.

"What we want now is to make the system more accessible and as nimble as possible. We want to make it similar to those small, advanced economies where we see their economies growing rapidly off the back of innovation and the IT sector," he says.

Roche says the new strategy provides a new platform for NZ to get the best value from the money government invests in science.

However, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins is warning businesses to proceed with caution and do their own due diligence.

"New Zealand businesses need to go into this with their eyes wide open," Hipkins says.

The deal, set to be signed in New Delhi on 27 April, was announced before Christmas last year.

Labour's support is required for the deal to come into effect because coalition partner NZ First withdrew it's support, with Winston Peters claiming the deal is "neither free nor fair".

Hipkins says that while the deal cuts tariffs and increases market access for New Zealand exporters, its $33 billion investment target is unrealistic and missing that target could mean benefits of the deal are "clawed back in 15 years".

"While Todd McClay says it's all aspirational, India is already setting up oversight and has signalled it will enforce the clawback," he says.

“This is not the deal Labour would have negotiated, but we value our relationship with India and the positive contributions of our Indian communities,” Hipkins says.

The Government has now committed to an expanded labour inspectorate at the next budget; faster visa changes; and prioritisation of the Modern Slavery Bill.

Hipkins says his party's position on the FTA is now settled.

"Our expectations, both on implementation of the commitments above, and on how this Government conducts itself toward the communities affected, are not negotiable," he concludes.

Recognised globaly, Reman Day is led by the Remanufacturing Industrial Council (RIC) and highlights the value of restoring used components to perform like-new, extending the product life, reducing waste and the reliance on new raw materials. 

Heath Joiner, head of parts & service for CNH Australia and New Zealand, says that as rural and regional industries face ongoing cost pressures, this approach is becoming increasingly relevant for farm machinery maintenance.

"Farmers continue to face increasing external financial pressures, and when farm machinery parts require replacement this can cost them further in time, money and productivity," Joiner says.

"Remanufacturing is a smart way to help lower costs for farmers, avoid complicated and often expensive rebuilds, and importantly maintain machinery uptime.

"It not only supports farmers' bottom lines, but for our industry, it also plays a critical role in reducing waste and conserving natural resources. It is a win-win for both the agricultural sector and the environment," he says.

In 2024, CNH Reman globally reduced raw material consumption by approximately 5,200 tonnes by refurbishing used components. Up to 85% of an engine can be salvaged and remanufactured multiple times, significantly extending its lifecycle value.

Beyond cost, the environmental benefits are substantial. Remanufactured parts can require up to 85% less energy to produce compared to new components, reducing emissions across manufacturing, energy consumption and the broader supply chain. CNH is globally targeting 90% recyclability across new products by 2030.

Joiner says it is not only a budget-friendly option for Case IH, New Holland and CASE Construction machinery owners, but remanufactured parts are OEM-backed and come with a two-year warranty, giving customers greater peace of mind.

CNH Reman offers farmers access to thousands of available parts, across more than 20,000 applications. This includes transmissions, drivelines, engines, electrical components, harvest parts, hydraulics and more.

"Our local dealers support remanufacturing Case IH, New Holland and CASE Construction machinery parts because they too know that it is a smarter way to keep farms moving with less costs, less downtime and more value from every machine," Joiner adds.

"Reman Day is a good reminder to keep valuable materials in use for longer and reduce the need for new raw resources. By recognising these contributions and encouraging more industries, including agriculture, to embrace the benefits, everyone stands to gain from it."

To me they are such happy little guys. I have yet to see any suffering from anxiety about tomorrow, or so uptight with fear and worry they’re not able to sleep. Every time I see them, they are hard-out enjoying life!

As a child, electrical storms totally freaked me. I pretty much trembled with fear. I pulled the blinds right down on the window in my room and then put books up against the bottom to shut out all the lightning.

In my teenage years, out on my horse one day, we got caught out in a massive storm. I promised the Lord all kinds of stuff that day! Doesn’t bother me at all now though, and it hasn’t done for many years.

I was on a flight beside an electrical storm up in Papua New Guinea years ago. The light show through the clouds was spectacular! Truly I enjoyed that flight!

Talking about fear, like many of you will too, I vividly remember the covid lockdowns and all the fear that got peddled along with it. I commented several times to my wife: “Look at that elderly couple over there, they look so broken!”

Yep, we bumped into fear-filled people many times over. And all the scare stuff to get you vaxed too. Don’t want to be the reason Grandma or Poppa died now do we?

A young truckie came in one day to pick up some livestock we were sending. He was fuming mad and made no attempt at all to hide it. He wanted to talk. He felt like he, his wife and young family had a gun to their head. Both of them would lose their jobs instantly if they refused the vax, he told me.

Now, I still don’t get the logic of wearing a mask when you are on your own, in your own car, out on a highway, miles from needing a stop! Each to their own, I guess. But I’d suggest fear has to be in the mix there somewhere.

And as we all know so well, anger, fear and worry are just not a good mix when it comes to our overall health and wellbeing.

Something that amused us both happened recently. We noted a news headline that read: “NZ Bunker Inquiries Double Amid The Iran Conflict”.

Just a few days later we took a train trip on the Northern Express. Great Journeys New Zealand is what it’s called. We shared a table with a nice couple visiting here from Europe. They informed us that NZ was definitely the safest place to be if the world was going to end. Yes, that’s exactly what they said. That being the case, they and their family have made plans to all meet up here, if it looks like being curtains.

We surely have a great little country and a great place to live. However, I think they see us as offering the most remote from trouble option possible. Antarctica just wouldn’t be as comfy!

When it comes to fear and worry, for sure, what you know is important. Like for starters, is it even true? And what are my options?

But for me, I have learned even more important again is who you know. Yep, he’s the one who has calmed all my fears. Take care and God bless.

To contact Colin Miller, email thefarmerschaplain@gmail.com.

Land Information Minister Mike Butterick says the bill, which was introduced to Parliament today, will unlock economic opportunities and support job creation across regional New Zealand.

Butterick says the Government has listened to the rural community and understands that the status quo has placed constraints on pastoral leaseholders, limiting their ability to diversity and respond to changing market conditions.

"The proposed legislation will offer increased flexibility for secondary use activities, which contribute to economic growth and create new jobs," he says.

"Proposals also recognise that other activities can be undertaken together with pastoral farming, and in a way that the inherent values of the unique environment are maintained or enhanced."

Permitted activities within the Bill include farm shops selling products grown or reared on farm; hospitality ventures; arable and horticulture activities; and renewable energy projects.

"The listed activities will offer leaseholders the opportunity to diversity their income and grow their businesses," Butterick says. "Where this occurs, we know there is a flow-on effect to local businesses and communities who benefit. This is always a win/win situation."

Butterick says that administrative processes will also be streamlined under the bill, reducing the red tape involved.

"These improvements are intended to let leaseholders focus on farming and innovation, rather than compliance.”

The public will be invited to provide input on the proposed changes through the Select Committee process.

Butterick says he encourages all interested parties to share their views and help shape the final legislation.

“The Government looks forward to working with stakeholders to realise the benefits of these progressive reforms.

“This legislation marks a new chapter for high country farming, underpinned by a commitment to economic growth, environmental stewardship, and strong rural communities.”

But to be fair, there were also plenty of people, also with half a brain, who thought it would be great.

Spare a thought for these guys then as they perform mental backflips trying to justify their support for the Don as he upsets the world's entire Christian population by posing as Jesus Christ himself and kicks off the biggest oil crisis since the 1970s.

The war drags on as Trump orders a naval blockade to unblock the blockade that only needs unblocking because he started the war that caused the blockade.

There's a reason US presidents have until now avoided going into Iran.

If Trump had half a brain, he would've too!

But your old mate reckons it's as much about what they don't, or won't, say that undermines public trust.

For example, One News recently ran a negative story about higher gang numbers, while ignoring the massive reduction in violent crime that was announced on the very same day.

Stuff did the same thing in a recent story about a jump in EV sales.

It quoted the far lower percentage changes for petrol, hybrid and diesel vehicles, but just the percentages - not how many units were sold.

Why not?

Because over 10 times as many non-EV vehicles (including hybrids) as pure EVs were sold.

Which didn't suit the narrative, did it?

As Groundswell notes, when they first objected to the new plan, it was going to place the whole Gore District under the 'Sites and Areas of Significance to Māori' classification.

"All they've done since is change the name to Cultural Values."

The ones who benefit from this change and who are pushing for it rely on everyone being scared of being labelled 'racist' for daring to challenge the workability of such proposals, so kudos to these advocacy groups for trying to hold the line at Gore, before it spreads to other districts.

He can't remember how many Māori are in cabinet and when pushed gets it all terribly wrong, then he ignores two new ministers who were about to get their ministerial warrants from the Governor General.

Sure, it was a stupid 'gtocha' question about the Māori members, but the befuddled live performances from Luxon must be concerning his handlers.

If he can't remember who sits around the cabinet table, what else can't he remember?

In an election year, this is serious.

Would Chris Bishop make such a blunder? This old mutt doubts it.

It will be interesting to see what impact Luxon's ongoing blunders and management waffle speak have as the media pressure - and the 'gotcha' media tricks - intensify in the run-up to the election.

Trade is critical to New Zealand's prosperity, and the FTAs are regarded as the next significant step forward.

However, when it comes to the proposed FTA with India - concluded by National in December - no date has been set for the signing ceremony, normally a high-profile event hosted by one of the signatory countries.

That's because the FTA faces a significant roadblock in NZ. Coalition partner New Zealand First won't support it, claiming that the proposed FTA is a "low-quality deal" and has expressed reservations around its immigration aspects.

It means the Government needs Labour's support to pass the deal through the House, but Labour is still to decide whether it will back the deal.

At a time when geopolitical issues threaten global trade and the International Monetary Fund is warning of a global recession, thanks to the Middle East unrest, NZ needs this FTA with India more than ever.

For NZ primary exporters, the benefits of an FTA with India would be huge. The deal would remove a 30% tariff for the sheep meat sector alone.

That's why an open letter, organised by BusinessNZ, and signed by 28 exporters and industry associations, such as Federated Farmers, Zespri, Seafood New Zealand and Beef + Lamb New Zealand has been sent to politicians.

However, getting the FTA over the line won't be straightforward for National.

The dairy sector - NZ's biggest primary export earner - isn't thrilled with the trade deal. Others feel the Indian FTA doesn't deliver the typical level of market access into India like, say, the Chinese FTA.

Also, being an election year and with potential kingmaker Winston Peters doubling down in his opposition to the trade deal, the political optics are huge.

The open letter urges National to sign the deal and all political parties to back it but that's easier said than done.

A major new 1.5 million tonne per year urea fertiliser project is set to be developed in Southland, offering an environmentally innovative and strategically significant alternative to imported urea fertiliser.

The proposed $3 billion project, intended to be located about 30 kilometres northeast of Invercargill, will give New Zealand’s agricultural sector self-sufficiency, which is critical to the long-term security and performance of an economy heavily dependent on agriculture.

Developed by Australian-based Victorian Hydrogen, the project will also deliver significant investment and employment opportunities in Southland.

“The Southland lignite-to-urea project represents a transformative opportunity for New Zealand’s fertiliser supply chain,” says Victorian Hydrogen executive director Allan Blood.

“By combining proven global technologies with local innovation, we aim to deliver high-quality urea at competitive prices while supporting long-term sustainable agricultural growth and addressing climate challenges.”

New Zealand currently imports 500,000 tonnes of urea annually. In addition New Zealand manufactures 265,000 tonnes, but falling gas supply means domestic production might end.

Ballance Agri Nutrients, which operates the Kapuni urea plant in Taranaki, is facing gas supply issues.

It has been mulling snowballing the country’s only ammonia-urea manufacturing facility.

The proposed facility aims to:

• Enhance domestic supply and reduce reliance on volatile international markets.
• Stabilise fertiliser costs and mitigate foreign exchange and cost risks for farmers.
• Produce additional products such as AdBlue, a diesel exhaust additive to reduce emissions.
• Support peaking power electricity demand of up to 114 MW at any one time by temporarily reducing production.

The Southland facility will employ a proven lignite gasification process:

• Lignite is reacted with oxygen at high temperatures and low pressures to produce syngas.
• Syngas is reacted with steam to produce hydrogen.
• Hydrogen is combined with atmospheric nitrogen to produce ammonia.
• Ammonia is then reacted with captured carbon dioxide from previous reactions to produce urea.

Blood says the technology is well established globally.

The world’s latest urea plant, using technology identical to that to be used in Southland, was commissioned in Zambia in late 2025.

“The Southland project is about applying this existing technology in a smarter and cleaner way,” Blood says.

“We are committed to mitigating the greenhouse gas impacts before the project proceeds, not after.

“Environmental management will be central to the project’s design, with various opportunities being looked at. These include using CO₂ to make algae-based cattle feed, liquid fuels, construction materials, and in inhibitor technologies to reduce nitrous oxide emissions.”

Blood emphasises the company’s dedication to transparent engagement with stakeholders, including local iwi, Ngāi Tahu rūnanga, councils, farmers and landowners across the 3,141-hectare exploration area that has been applied for.

“Mining operations will be designed to minimise disruption, with progressive rehabilitation and more-than-fair compensation for affected landowners,” he says.

The project is expected to apply for approvals under the fast-track regulatory process. Key milestones include:

Applying for regulatory consents and engaging with landowners.

Completing initial geological and hydrological studies by spring 2026.

Progressing to detailed engineering and process design.

A targeted three-year pathway from the conclusion of the very detailed studies currently underway, to full production.

“The initial economic analysis looks very good indeed and hence the desire to move forward quickly,” Blood says.

“New Zealand is currently exposed to global fertiliser shocks it can’t control. This project is about providing national self-sufficiency for the next 50 years plus - producing what farmers need in New Zealand, with world-class technology and robust environmental safeguards,” Blood says.

To understand whether plant disease-causing fungi are being moved this way, scientists from the Bioeconomy Science Institute are identifying the species being carried on beetles found in Kiwi forests and orchards.

Darryl Herron, task lead on the project says that while much is known about the beetles, less is known about the fungi travelling with them.

Since 2024, researchers across the Bioeconomy Science Institute, including teams from Lincoln, Rotorua, Ruakura, Auckland, and Motueka, have collaborated to trap bark and ambrosia beetles across the country and analyse the fungi they carry, through projects funded by Better Border Biosecurity and Zespri.

The work has revealed a broad range of fungi associates linked to native and introduced beetle species.

While most of these fungi are common plant associates, the team has detected species with the potential to disrupt plantation forestry, horticulture and native ecosystems if conditions change or new beetle species arrive. 

The work includes assessing potential risks to native bush, urban environments and botanical collections and monitoring beetle activity in and around orchards, where new associations and increased aggressiveness in the beetle-fungal system could pose future threats.

Bark and ambrosia beetles tunnel into trees and interact with fungi in different ways. The latter carry and cultivate specific fungi, while the former pick up a more mixed assortment. Together, they’re associated with a wide range of woody plants across plantation forests, orchards, urban areas and the native estate. Their rapid breeding ability means beetle numbers can rise quickly – so their fungal passengers are never short of taxis.

Herron says it's often these fungi that cause the greatest harm.

"Some fungal species block a tree's ability to move water and nutrients, weaken natural defences or accelerate disease, particularly when trees are already stressed by drought, age or harvesting activity," he says.

"By identifying these fungal 'passengers', we're building a clearer picture of the microscopic communities being moved across New Zealand and which beetles are more important to focus on from a biosecurity perspective. This helps us assess whether these beetles have the potential to facilitate the movement of fungi not currently established in New Zealand."

Overseas, certain beetle–fungus partnerships have caused extensive forest dieback.

Herron says the focus of the research is to understand what risks exist in New Zealand before those impacts occur.

"If we know which beetles can carry damaging fungi and where they’re moving, we can respond faster and reduce the risk to forests and export markets," he says.

The research also contributes valuable information to national surveillance efforts led by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and industry partners, including the Forest Owners Association, alongside other research programmes. Understanding fungal diversity being carried on these tiny beetle taxis could help refine risk modelling tools, guiding where and how surveillance and monitoring is most effective and strengthening post‑border surveillance. 

Together, these investments support New Zealand’s ability to stay ahead of emerging biosecurity risk, helping protect forests, horticulture and ecosystems and the industries and communities that depend on them.

 “Maintaining strong biosecurity pathways is critical for protecting plantation forestry and export markets,” Herron concludes.

The announcement was made at the NZFFA's conference, currently underway in Cambridge with the theme of "Small Forests - Big Future".

The conference includes field trips to visit production forests of paulownia, integrated into a dairy farm, native forests planted for production and high value processing.

Morrison is a retired farmer and active forester and manages the Streamside Planting Programme for Porirua City Council.

He has been a member of the NZFFA for over 40 years and is an active participant in both the Wellington and Wairarapa branches. He has served on the NZFFA National Executive for three years.

Three new members - Philip Alloway, Dave Forsyth, and George Shallcrass - were also elected to the Association's Executive.

Alloway is currently branch chair and treasurer of the Nelson Branch of the NZFFA and treasurer of the Marlborough Branch.

He has owned plantation forestry with his wife Carol for 33 years, with largely a hands-off management approach. They both worked overseas to fund the forest land purchase. He has formerly owned and operated a nationwide industrial scale service business. He and Carol are currently developing a small amenity tree block in Linkwater. 

Forsyth has been a member of the NZFFA for 30 years. He has been a co-opted member of the Executive and is the Current Treasurer. He is the current President of the Waikato Branch and is Convenor of the National Conference being held in the Waikato. 

Shallcrass operates a forest harvesting and sawmill business at Linkwater in Marlborough. He has been a member of NZFFA for over 30 years and is currently Chair of the Marlborough Branch of NZFFA. He is a former Chair of the Top of The South Wood Council and a current member of the executive. He received the Joll Hosking award for "Distinguished Service" to NZFFA in 2025.

Now in its 20th year, the organisation runs an annual event to formally honour New Zealand families which have farmed their land for 100 years or more.

With 36 Century Farms to be featured this year, some 300 people are expected at the event, to be held in Lawrence, Otago, on the weekend of May 15.

Another 12 farms will be honoured as SesquiCentennial farms, having clocked up 150 years.

The event includes a welcome on the Friday night then a farm and town tour on the Saturday before the awards dinner that evening. It is not a competition, but all honourees are presented with a certificate and a bronze plaque suitable for mounting on their property.

"We need to celebrate farming. Farming's been a really big part, and still is a big part, of what makes New Zealand, and makes our income as a country," said Barnett.

She said the history of farming families, the things they have been through and the things they've done, might otherwise be forgotten.

"Most farmers aren't just stuck on a farm working their farm, a lot of them are a major part of their local communities.

"So often farming is seen in a negative light and I think it's good to reward those that have done great things and are still doing great things."

Barnett said she and her husband spent 28 years on a 10-acre block, which was "nothing" compared with the Century farmers, but it gave an appreciation of the highs and the lows that farmers have been through.

NZCFSA chair Edward Fitzgerald said the NZCFSA team and Lawrence locals were looking forward to hosting the event.

"It is a real honour to acknowledge the families' hard work and perserverance."

To qualify, a farm has to have been held and farmed by the same family for over 100 years.

Barnett said it doesn't matter whether the farm is owned or leased, with many farms in the earlier days starting out as Crown or Māori lease, many of which had since converted to freehold.

She said many farms were balloted to returned servicemen after the first world war, in a process that continued into the 1920s.

"So that's bringing out quite a few of our Century Farmers these days."

Barnett said the movement was long established in the United States and Canada and was launched in New Zealand after "a key couple of people" heard about it,

The New Zealand movement is based in Lawrence partly because there is a good number of Century Farms in the area. Barnett said it was the site of New Zealand's first major gold rush in 1861, and many miners who made their fortune from the Gabriel's Gully gold used their earnings to buy land in the district.

"Our first awards in 2005 were a very quiet affair and it's got bigger ever since."

She said the 12 SesquiCentennial Farms was the highest number yet.

"Some of them are returns that have celebrated the farm as a Centennial farm and have since kicked over the 150 years."

 Farmlands has been the major sponsor throughout.

Meanwhile, NZCFSA is inviting applications for the next event, from families that have worked their land since 1926 or earlier. The deadline is November 30.

That's how Otama Marere Advisory trustee Diane Berghan described the field day at their orchard, staged as part of the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition to determine the top Māori horticulture entity in the 2026 competition.

Otama Marere Trust is one of three finalists in the competition and manages 45 hectares of Māori freehold land at Paengaroa near Te Puke in the Bay of Plenty. Their land was originally leased to the Te Puke Golf Club before the trust took ownership of it in the 1980s and converted it into an orchard.

Today's operations include more than 21ha of kiwifruit, avocados, native plantings, and 6.3ha of protected wetlands. The Trust diversifies through commercial property investment and Māori partnerships.

More than 200 people turned up for the field day and heard presentations by trustees and staff about the operation of the trust, before being taken to two sites to see the orchard and how it is developing.

Among those present was Larissa Wooding-Ngata, one of the finalists in this year's Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower competition, run in conjunction with the main Ahuwhenua Trophy event.

Berghan says she couldn't be happier with the field day and says people were able to see that they are not just about growing kiwifruit but are also about restoring and giving back to the land.

"The day was also about acknowledging the owners of Otama Marere and the support they guve the trustees and the decisions they are making now for future generations," she says.

Another advisory trustee, Petera Tapsell, says he was ecstatic with the day, which was bigger than he though it would be. He was especially pleased with the positive comments from attendees.

"That gave me a lot of heart and I am very proud of where we have gotten to," he told Rural News.

Ahuwhenua Trophy chair Nukuhia Hadfield praised Otama Marere Trust for running an enjoyable field day. She says they have worked hard establishing a diversity of crops and have taken a leading role in growing SunGold G3, being one of the first Māori-owned orchards to grow this crop.

"This gave attendees a picture of what they have achieved by hard work and determination over many years," she says.

The winner of the competition will be announced at a gala dinner in Whangarei in June.

The appointment marks the consultancy's first team member in 26 years to be based in the region.

Headquartered in Rotorua, Perrin Ag has worked alongside Hawke's Bay farmers for decades with recent work including farm purchase due diligence and investment analysis, Māori agribusiness advisory and support, and farm business review and resilience planning.

Perrin Ag says Ferris's appointment formalises the company's on-the-ground presence and signals its intent to expand its support for rural businesses in the region.

A Hawke's Bay local, Ferris is based in Waipawa. 

She grew up on her family’s sheep and beef farm in Wairoa and went dairying after high school.  Her diverse career in the primary sector – including appointments at Halter, First Light Wagyu NZ and Spring Sheep Dairy - has seen her develop a strong background in livestock supply, agribusiness and commercial operations.

Ferris has worked closely with farmers, processors and wider industry stakeholders, building a practical understanding of how on-farm decisions flow through the supply chain and influence commercial outcomes.

Ferris says she is passionate about doing work that adds real value back to farmers.

"Being part of Perrin Ag means I’m backed by an exceptional team, so I get the opportunity to keep learning while bringing my experience together in a consulting role that helps Hawke’s Bay businesses make confident decisions," she says.

“I see a real gap in the region for independent advisory support.  And if I can help fill that gap, that will be hugely rewarding.”

Lee Matheson, managing director of Perrin Ag, says there is increased demand for his team’s practical advice as Hawke’s Bay farming and horticulture businesses navigate major decision points.

“We’re working with rural businesses across the region, from Wairoa through to central and southern Hawke’s Bay.  Our clients are diverse, including sheep and beef, dairy and horticulture systems,” Matheson says.

"While we've been active in the region for many years, Vicky's presence means we will be even better connected to the local rural community," he adds.

“Our work in Hawke’s Bay is often focused on significant moments, such as when businesses are assessing change, managing risk, or making long-term commitments around land and capital.

“We’re deliberately selective about the work we take on, and our focus is on advice that can materially improve long-term outcomes. Vicky’s personal goal of adding value to our clients is perfectly aligned to Perrin Ag’s core objective.  She’s going to be a real asset to our Hawke’s Bay clients.”

You can do everything right, then a late frost, a weather event, or a sudden market shift rewrites the season overnight. Farming has always required resilience, but right now the level of global uncertainty facing New Zealand agriculture feels different in both scale and speed.

Whether it be geopolitical tensions or shifting trade dynamics, the goalposts are moving faster than many of us have experienced before.

We're operating in what leadership experts call a VUCA environment: volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. But while the acronym may be relatively new, the mindset required to navigate it is not. Farmers have been managing VUCA conditions for generations.

Focus On What You Can Control

When seasons are unpredictable, farmers return to fundamentals. They focus on what they can control - soil health, pasture resilience, animal welfare and long-term productivity - rather than chasing every short-term signal.

The same principle applies at an industry level.

At Ballance, our focus remains on helping farmers grow sustainably while building farming systems for the future. Market conditions may shift, regulations evolve, and global events create disruption, but clarity of purpose provides stability when everything else feels uncertain.

Certainty doesn't come from predicting the future perfectly, but from having a clear direction that allows you to adapt without losing momentum.

Planning For Resilience, Not Perfection

Farmers know there's no such thing as a perfect season. The goal therefore is resilience.

When we view pasture management, a resilient pasture isn't necessarily the highest producing in ideal conditions, it's the one that performs consistently through drought, heavy rain, and temperature swings.

Diversity, strong root systems, and careful management help it recover faster when conditions change.

The same thinking applies to farm business planning.

Global uncertainty highlights how interconnected agriculture has become. Fertiliser production relies heavily on energy markets, shipping costs depend on geopolitical stability, global consumer confidence.

Farmers who continue investing in soil fertility and efficiency, as well as using data driven decision-making are often better positioned when markets stabilise again. In other words, resilience must be built before you need it.

Reassurance Matters Through Uncertain Seasons

During challenging periods, one of the most important roles leaders play, whether you're a rural professional or farm owner, is one of reassurance.

Farm teams, families, and rural communities take cues from those around them. Acknowledging uncertainty honestly, while reinforcing shared goals and values, helps prevent reactionary decision making driven by stress rather than strategy.

Farmers already understand this instinctively. When a tough season hits, neighbours check in, share information and support each other. That collective resilience is one of rural New Zealand's greatest strengths. The same principle applies across the sector as a whole. Communication and collaboration help everyone make better decisions when things are unclear.

Focus On What Matters Most

Farming, like any business, is necessarily about prioritisation and responding to changes beyond your control.

Weather forecasts change. Markets fluctuate. Global politics shift.

You can't control the rain, but you can prepare the soil. You can't influence global tensions, but you can strengthen the resilience of your farming system. You can't eliminate uncertainty, but you can build certainty into the decisions you make every day.

In a world where headlines change by the hour, focusing on the fundamentals, healthy soils, efficient nutrient use, strong planning, and connected communities becomes more important than ever.

Keeping Calm and Carrying On

New Zealand farmers have navigated uncertainty before, from economic reforms to droughts and pandemics. Each time, resilience, innovation and long-term thinking have carried the sector forward.

The current global environment is another reminder that while uncertainty may be unavoidable, preparedness is not. Certainty ultimately is about having the confidence that whatever comes, you've built a system strong enough to respond.

And that is something New Zealand farmers have always done exceptionally well.

Kelvin Wickham, chief executive officer, Ballance Agri-Nutrients

Her selection follows current National MP Maureen Pugh’s decision to retire.

Labour MP Damien O’Connor, who previously held the seat, will also not be standing.

Milne is a fifth-generation family farmer from the West Coast and was the first woman to be elected president of Federated Farmers – serving from 2017 to 2020 in that role. Her career in farmer politics began in 1991 and she once told Rural News her initial role was in the Feds dairy section, which she took on to help others understand why farmers do what they do and to correct a lot of misconceptions about the sector.

She also called out some of the rules farmers were subjected to, saying certain individuals had no idea of the consequences of their decisions at a practical level on farm.

In 2015 Milne was named Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year and later served on the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, chaired the West Coast TB Free Committee and was a member of the Farmer Mental Wellness Strategy Group and helped found the Lake Brunner Community Catchment Care Group.

Milne and her partner Ian own a dairy farm near Lake Brunner southeast of Greymouth. She says as a lifetime advocate for farming, she applauds the current government for its support for farming, including removing red tape and signing major trade deals.

“As a fifth-generation coaster, I know that our region can be more productive, with more jobs and higher wages, which is why I am standing for National,” she says.

Discounted student tickets will be available for groups of 10 or more at $10 each, a 45% discount off the standard child rate.

The New Zealand National Fieldays Society, which owns and operates the Fieldays event, says the Careers & Education Hub will be the central starting point for school visits, supported by a Careers Trail on the Fieldays App that helps students explore training and employment pathways across the event.

More than 70 sites are part of the Careers Trail, bringing together training providers, support organisations and employers keen to connect with future talent.

Halter's marketing and events specialist, Lily Foote-Caughey, says the company is excited to be part of the Careers & Education Hub.

"At Halter, we believe the future of farming is being built right now, and we want students to know there's a place in it for them," Foote-Caughey says.

Meanwhile, Steve Chappell, the New Zealand National Fieldays Society's programme manager, says that each year, more schools choose Fieldays because it gives their students a practical window into future careers and real-world learning.

"From hands-on pathways into agriculture and related industries, through to science, technology and sustainability-focused roles, students can meet the people behind the work and see what those jobs look like in practice," Chappell says.

NZ Grow Co is designed to boost the cannabis industry's position as a high-value export sector.

It will provide an integrated model linking cultivation, processing, and export capability. It enables growers to participate in regulated international markets through a coordinated system, rather than operating as standalone producers.

Ora Pharm, the company behind NZ Grow Co, already has 30 cultivators.

Chief executive Zoe Reece says they are getting new enquiries every week.

"We have and will be expanding our satellite grower program where we get the licenses for the growers to help streamline the process for them," she told Rural News.

Reece believes that the sector is now moving beyond its early, fragmented phase.

"Regulatory clarity is critical to unlocking investment and participation. What we are seeing now is the opportunity to build a more coordinated, export-focused industry that delivers real economic value."

The new extraction facility in North Waikato is in the process of securing EU good manufacturing practice certification - positioning the business to meet the standards required in regulated export markets.

Reece said the focus must now shift from establishment to execution.

"New Zealand has strong fundamentals: trusted primary production, a reputation for quality, and a stable regulatory environment. The next step is building the infrastructure and systems that allow the sector to scale and compete internationally."

Reece says with the new extraction facility open, they will soon be able to offer "gate prices" to cultivators.

"This will take the uncertainty out of where the product can go. We also work closely with suppliers of the grow inputs to get discounts for the farmers to reduce the cost of growing. This adds up to high margins for the farmers."

Farmers can grow cannabis as a supplementary crop but not have stock among the crops.

"They would be able to grow cannabis in rotation with other crops, like over summer and then veggies over winter."

The new extraction facility, opened by Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour this month, can process up to 400kg of flowers per day.

"We will be looking to process the majority of flower from this summer harvest and any that cultivators have from previous cycles too," says Reece.

Ora Pharm executive chair Stuart Wilcox believes New Zealand's opportunity lies in premium positioning.

"This is not a commodity play. With the right settings, New Zealand can build a high-quality, science-led export sector based on consistency, traceability, and compliance," says Wilcox.

Seymour says the medicinal cannabis sector has similar potential to the kiwifruit, honey and wine sectors.

"If you think about kiwifruit, about manuka honey, a couple of years ago, they were nothing.

"Now they're worth millions and I think the same opportunity exists here."

Harraways’ oats, The Good Oil edible oils and Otis oat milk are among the first to sign up to the New Zealand Grown Grains branding initiative, guaranteeing consumers that the grains and seeds in their food is New Zealand-grown. The new grain mark logo is expected to appear on these products’ packaging in coming months.   

Other food producers are already using the logo which makes it easier for consumers to identify and seek out food and drink products made from domestically-grown grain and seed.    

The arable industry hopes the logo will lift awareness, tapping into a strengthening desire by consumers for locally-sourced food as well as reduce reliance on imported grain.

Many consumers are unaware that three-quarters of the bread sold in New Zealand is made from imported grain, with 250,000 to 300,000 tonnes of milling wheat imported each year, mainly from Australia. While dairy and sheep and beef sectors are enjoying record prices, arable farmers are struggling to achieve profitable returns, compounded by a wet, difficult harvest in many regions, and hope the logo can revitalise their sector and expand production.               

The certification trademark for products made with New Zealand-grown grains is the initiative of growers via their levy organisation, the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR).

FAR general manager of business operations Ivan Lawrie, a driving-force behind the logo’s development, says that about 25 companies have signed-up to date, including flour millers, bakers, pasta makers and animal feed suppliers, with a steady stream of new applications arriving. Together these use a wide range of crops including wheat, barley, oats, oilseeds and quinoa.

“To support local growers and the wider arable industry, we encourage consumers to seek out the logo,” Ivan Lawrie says.

“Many products already use New Zealand-grown grains, but until now have had no easy-to-recognise way of showing this. The logo clearly distinguishes these products in the marketplace.” 

A New Zealand Grown Grains website nzgrowngrains.nz has just been launched which will showcase the companies including bakers Grizzly (Christchurch), Bellbird (Christchurch), Real Bread Kitchen (Christchurch), FlourBro (Invercargill), Wild Wheat (Auckland), Big Score (Nelson) and eckh (Timaru).  

FAR, an independent, non-profit organisation, holds the non-royalty licence for the logo. Asure Quality is responsible for auditing companies, ensuring that the products are definitely New Zealand grown.

Any growth in New Zealand-grown grains versus imports is a win, not just for arable farmers and the arable sector, but also in terms of food security and sustainable land use, Ivan Lawrie says. 

“Although the grain component may represent only a small share of a final product’s total cost, even a modest rise in demand can have significant long-term effects, encouraging investment by plant breeders, traders and processors and helping to maintain a diverse and resilient portfolio of cropping options for New Zealand growers.” 

Lees says Allen's appointment, announced last week, suggests the board is not looking for reinvention.

"It is looking for execution," says Lees, senior lecturer in agribusiness and markets at Lincoln University.

"That makes sense because Fonterra is no longer at the stage of redefining its direction.

"The co-op has already narrowed its focus around ingredients and foodservice. The challenge now is to make that model perform consistently."

Allen joined Fonterra as a graduate in 2008 and since then his career has spanned the co-operativ'es global supply chain.

Like outgoing chief executive Miles Hurrell, Allen also led the co-op's farmer facing business Farm Source for five years.

He has worked in China as vice president of Foodservice business, was the founding CEO of MyMilk, and more recently served as president Atlantic-based in Chicago, responsible for relationships with several global key accounts.

Lees says Allen's background fits that task at hand well.

"He knows the ingredients business, understands international markets, and has led Farm Source in New Zealand.

"That gives him credibility across the full value chain, from farmers and milk supply through to global customers.

"So, this looks less like a change in strategy and more like a decision to back the current one."

Lees also says that Fonterra's move away from consumer markets does not mean the opportunity to add value has disappeared.

That opportunity now sits in higher-value ingredients. Specialised proteins, functional ingredients, customised blends, and nutrition products can offer stronger margins while still fitting the co-op's ingredients-based model.

Lees adds that a strategy built on discipline and focus leaves less room for underperformance.

"Fonterra now needs to show it can control costs, lift returns from milk, and perform consistently in a volatile global dairy market.

"So, the real significance of this appointment is not just who Richard Allen is. It is what the board is signalling through him."

Fonterra chair Peter McBride says Allen is an exceptional leader who will bring to the CEO role a strong connection with farmer shareholders and customers and a deep knowledge of Fonterra's global operations and markets.

Humbled, Proud

Richard Allen says he is incredibly humbled to be appointed CEO and feels great pride to be leading the co-op.

"I've built my career with Fonterra and understand the important role the co-op plays both for farmers here in New Zealand and our customers around the world.

"I'm committed to maintaining the momentum in our performance, focused delivery of strategy and financial discipline that has been developed over recent years.

"Fonterra has a strong platform to build from and I'm excited by our prospects as we move forward as a New Zealand farmer-owned global B2B dairy provider," says Allen.

Allen steps in the role on May 1 with Hurrell staying with Fonterra in an advisory role until September 2026 to assist with the leadership transition.

He says the organisation has evolved into an advocate and guardian for the sector and all its players, including growers and processors.

Bhana is a director of Hira Bhana and company, a family business involved in growing vegetables for over 60 years. He served on grower bodies for 23 years before retiring two years ago from Potatoes NZ as deputy chair.

Potatoes NZ was incorporated on April 17, 2012, and is celebrating its birthday with a series of events this week.

New Zealand has about 150 registered potato growers, producing the crop on over 10,000ha. Bhana says Potatoes NZ plays an important role in the sector.

“What began as a collective effort to represent growers has grown into a national voice championing potatoes in all forms and practical advocacy for the industry as a whole,” he told Rural News.

“They work on our behalf on R&D and help us tackle the challenges of pests and diseases.

“They are part and parcel of what we do.”

Kate Trufitt, chief executive of Potatoes New Zealand, says this birthday comes at a time when many growers are under real pressure.

Input costs remain high, markets are tight, and uncertainty continues to weigh heavily across the sector, she says.

“While it’s important to acknowledge how far we’ve come as an organisation, our focus is firmly on supporting growers through the challenges they are facing right now — with practical tools, strong advocacy, and science-based solutions that help build resilience for the future.”

Trufitt says that as Potatoes New Zealand marks this milestone, it acknowledges the generations of growers, industry partners, researchers, and supporters who have shaped the sector through both good seasons and difficult ones.

Their resilience and commitment continue to underpin the strength of the industry today, she adds.

Looking ahead, Potatoes New Zealand remains focused on building a resilient, sustainable, and viable future for growers.

"Our commitment is unwavering: to champion the industry, to advocate strongly during tough market conditions, and to work alongside growers to ensure the long-term strength of New Zealand's potato sector," says Trufitt.

With a lot of fruit still to be harvested there were fears that the cyclone could severely damage fruit still on the vines. There were some nervous orchardists in the main kiwifruit growing regions of Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti and Northland.

But NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated chief executive, Colin Bond, says that there was much less damage than predicted and, at a national level, what damage has occurred will not have an impact on the size of this year's crop. He says damage appears to be limited mainly to shelter belts and some buildings and most of the fruit on the vines has not been affected by the cyclone.

"We have only heard of a few orchards in the eastern Bay of Plenty that might have had some fruit loss caused by kiwifruit being knocked off the vine or being damaged by wind," he told Rural News.

"This picture appears to be the same in all the kiwifruit growing regions. But like any event, there will be some individual growers who have had a worse than expected experience," he says.

While the harvest has been going well, the rain from the cyclone and subsequent rain in the past week has slowed this down. But Bond points out that initially the harvest got off to a good start and growers are hoping the weather will be fine up in the next few weeks.

As the Middle East crisis shows no sign of ending, kiwifruit growers, like others in the primary sector, are having to deal with rising fuel and fertiliser prices - something Bond says is a challenge.

"But the reality is that we see ourselves as price takers. We only produce one crop a year and that is harvested; now we need to make money and get the fruit from the orchards to the supply chain, so the increasing fuel cost is a challenge. But by far the biggest challenge for growers is making sure their fruit gets to market, so we just must accept the fuel rises for now and hope that the government and the authorities are doing all that they can to make sure that we can continue to supply our markets," he says.

Bond points out that while fuel is a cost to growers, by far the biggest cost to them is labour, which makes up between 60% and 70% of orchard costs.

He says the mood of growers is positive and the market signals are good. But he notes that there remain concerns in the long term about what effect the present crisis may have on the economies of nations that we export to, and what if any impact this may have on consumer demand.

Dillon also won the top title last year.

Rural News is proud to be one of the sponsors of the championships.

Full results of the 71st Power Farming New Zealand Ploughing Championships held in Methven on 18th and 19th April 2026

Fern Energy Silver Plough Conventional overall results:

First Place: Mark Dillon - 385.5 points (won the Fern Energy Silver Plough Conventional Trophy)

Second Place: Derek Houghton - 295.5 points (won the Case IH Trophy)

Third Place: Shane Burnby - 284.5 points (winner of the Magson Trophy)

Pioneer Brand Products Reversible overall results:

First Place: Malcolm Taylor - 324.5 points, (with the reversible trophy donated by Graham and Shirley Gifford)

Second Place: Murray Baird - 295.5 points (with the Ford trophy)

Third Place: Henry Williams - 268.0 points

Winners of the Pioneer Brand Products Reversible Malcolm Taylor and Fern Energy Silver Plough Conventional Mark Dillon will represent New Zealand at the 72nd World Ploughing Contest in Kenya in 2027)

Rural News Horse Plough:

First Place: John and Sharon Chynoweth - 368.0 points (winners of the Rural News Horse trophy)

Second Place: John Booth and Paule Crawford - 297.5 points

Third Place: Ian and Kathy Cummings - 249.5 points

Holmes Solutions New Zealand Vintage Ploughing Championship:

First Place: Paula Jordan - 303.0 points (winner of the Jordan Family trophy)

Second Place: Ian Cocker - 294.0 points

Third Place: Robert Weavers - 293.0 points

Holmes Solutions Contemporary Ploughing

First Place: Josh Rushton - 325.0 points (winner of the David M Brown Memorial Trophy)

Second Place: Richard Cooke - 283.5 points

Third Place: Keith Marychurch - 231.5 points

Special Prizes: Vern Bishell Trophy donated by Vern Bishell to be presented to the best presented horse team, this will includes horses, equipment and contestants. Winner: John Booth and Paule Crawford

Wiganwood Trophy Donated by John Thornton: Best presented rig at this years Championship Winner: Murray Grainger

W G Miller Trophy Awarded to the highest place competitor 35 years of age and under at the time of this championship. Winner: Shane Burnby

Alistair Rutherford Memorial Trophy - for outstanding contribution to the sport of ploughing: Alan Begg The Jordan family prize for the straightest plot on the ground - Paula Jordan

She says this is particularly in markets with great prospects in the future such as India.

"It has taken nearly 20 years to conclude this negotiation, and we would like to see it passed by the respective Parliaments.

"As with some of our other FTAs, it will be possible to negotiate improvements in the future.

"This year, India surpassed China as the most populous country in the world. It is projected to become the world's third-largest economy within five years, and its middle class is growing.

"In addition to unlocking a promising market that has been constrained due to the 30% tariff currently on New Zealand sheepmeat, an FTA will also deliver important additional options for our exporters, spread risk and provide greater stability."

B+LNZ has signed an open letter to parliamentarians from BusinessNZ calling for the signing of the FTA.

Meat Industry Association (MIA) chair Nathan Guy says that FTA brings New Zealand's red meat sector one step closer to unlocking new opportunities from a market with considerable long-term potential.

"And we are calling on the Government to sign the FTA now to keep building momentum.

"Globally our exporters are facing rising protectionism, uncertainty and volatility. Access to different markets is key to help us weather market dynamics as it provides the sector with options and create resilience supporting farm-gate returns and the national economy," says Guy.

That’s the strong advice from Julie Clark, a Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ ) board member, who with her husband John runs a contracting business in Ōtorohanga which  was hit hard in February’s flood.

The company is now amid the maize harvest as well as undersowing, spraying and ground cultivation.

Julie says it’s been a very busy few weeks for her staff after the mid-February deluge saw up to 300 millimetres of rain dropped on the town in a few hours.

John and their son Matthew both drove tractors around midnight on Friday February 13 to rescue family and friends from the rising flood waters and returned them to their home on Kio Kio Station Rd in water about 1.5m deep.

At dawn, they were all evacuated to higher ground with the water having reached 1m high in their nearby workshop.

Julie rang her local insurance agent on the Saturday morning and started lodging multiple claims for the couple’s own home, that of their son, workshop contents and stock, cars and machinery.

She asked the agent who was away in the South Island, to come on Monday to see the damage. He was later supported by two assessors. In the interim she took photos.

“We had a dozen of our 15 tractors affected with four having to be transported to town. The staff from Giltrap AgriZone and Waikato Tractors were great in getting the gear sorted and mobile.”

The repair costs started at $5,000. One vehicle was written off as was anything electrical in the workshop. In the compound, hay and silage wrap was lost among other stock.

Julie and John have been on the property for 30 years and considered they were outside any flood risk.

“If you’d asked me if I would have a claim on a flood, I would have laughed at you.”

The flooded farm.

Now her insurer is working through seven different claims. She is grateful the company has, at her request, appointed a dedicated person to work with her rather than having to deal with multiple staff.

Julie says the total cost will run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars and she expects most, though not all of this, will be covered.

She says rural contractors need to check they have full, comprehensive insurance.

“While it’s been a very trying time, we’ve had the support of our family and our friends. Our staff have also been amazing with all the hard work they put in cleaning up the damage.

“We also knew we had full cover with an insurer we’ve been with for a long time. Without all that, we’d have been knocked flat rather than being up and running again.

“I’m urging all RCNZ members to dig out that policy and check it gives you the cover you might need.”

Earl Rattray, Waikato, told Rural News that he can't recall a time when trade dealsm which are vital to New Zealand interests, didn't get bipartisan support.

"When it comes to trade matters, politicians must be one team, all pulling in the same direction," he says.

"It will be helpful when the negotiated terms of the deal are released, so we can see what the fuss is about."

National needs the support of Labour to get the FTA ratified in Parliament since coalition partner New Zealand First has withdrawn support over immigration concerns.

Rattray warns that New Zealand will be left further behind and become even less relevant globally as a trading nation if the FTA is delayed.

"It may take a long period to get re-engaged later, if they blow this chance, and then there's no guarantee a future outcome will be any better. So, where are you at the end of all that?"

Rattray says his message to parliamentarians is 'answer one question'.

"Does this deal, on balance, give New Zealand businesses more commercial opportunity than we have now?

"If the answer to that is yes, and I believe it is, then our politicians have a duty to us all to do the right thing and move forward.

"This deal is not perfect, we already know that, not all trade deals are, but it's better to be in the room talking and making progress. The sun always comes up eventually."

Rattray, in partnership with three Indian engineers, run Binsar Farms in Haryana state.

The farm "inherits traditional practices and International standards to produce best quality milk for our consumers", it's website says.

In a statement over the weekend, Cavendish says that considering information made available to him recently, he cannot “in good conscience” continue to act as a spokesperson for the Fair For Farmers campaign.

Fair For Farmers claims to represent NZ farmers operating with high standards and opposes a loophole that allows products to be sold here that would be illegal to produce on a New Zealand farm.

It says that for example, over 60% of pork sold in NZ is imported, mostly from countries allowing the use of sow stalls, a system we moved away from years ago.

Last week Federated Farmers criticised Fair For Farmers and Cavendish and questioned their links to some organisations.

It claimed that Animal Policy International, whose funding comes from “big international players involved in the vegan, plant-based, and alternative-protein scene” are pulling the strings in the background.

Cavendish, a Waikato dairy farmer, says that initially, he had asked questions about the structure, influences, and affiliations behind the campaign he was fronting.

“I was given answers: I accepted those answers,” he says.

But he adds that further information has emerged that raises issues he cannot reconcile.

“You cannot on one hand claim to stand for farmers and on the other be connected to a legacy that has actively worked against them.

“That contradiction is not something I am prepared to front, defend, or explain away.

“Accordingly, I have withdrawn as a spokesperson for Fair for Farmers.”

But Cavendish says his position on supporting NZ farmers hasn’t changed.

“My position on the need to support New Zealand farmers upholds strong animal welfare standards and ensure a fair and sustainable domestic food system remains exactly as it was.

“I remain a strong advocate for the New Zealand pork industry, the poultry sector, and rural New Zealand more broadly.

“I believe in fairness for farmers. I have argued for it publicly and without hesitation.

“But advocacy must be grounded in clarity and integrity.”

Cavendish says he will continue farmer advocacy, through his ‘Farming with Walt’ platform.

Fair for Farmers says that it is sorry to see Cavendish leave the campaign.

“Walt has been a fantastic advocate. He’s a straight-talking and forceful personality and has made a real difference.

“We have enjoyed working with him and are glad that he is going to continue his work to try to push to see the same standards applied to food products we import as apply to our own farms,” the lobby says.

Fair For Farmers maintains that its campaign has been transparent “that we are a coalition of both farmers and people with an animal welfare background”.

Federated Farmers has labelled Fair for Farmers “bad news”.

In his weekly message to members, Feds president Wayne Langford says Fair for Farmers’ campaign - pushing for a ban on the import of products like pork and poultry not farmed to New Zealand standards - presents very real trade risks, particularly for dairy and red meat farmers.

He also takes aim at individuals and organisations behind Fair for Farmers.

“This is where things start to become particularly murky and disturbing,” he says.

“Because while they may have some local farmers fronting their messages here, there’s actually another outfit called Animal Policy International who are pulling the strings in the background.

“The group’s website reveals most of their funding seems to come from big international players involved in the vegan, plant-based, and alternative-protein scene.”

Langford says these include vegetarian cosmetics company LUSH, and a group called the Stray Dog Institute, whose mission is to “reduce, reform and replace the use of animals in the food system”.

Another funder is the USA-based Tiny Bean fund, whose stated aim is to help people “understand and address the complex problem of industrial food animal production”, he says.

“Does that really sound like a group with Kiwi farmers’ best interests at heart?

“If you still need convincing, just wait until you hear who else is involved,” he says.

Langford says the group’s co-executive director is Mandy Cartner, who spent seven years working for SAFE as their campaigns director in New Zealand.

Their public affairs manager, Mona Oliver, worked for SAFE as a campaigns officer for two years and has strong links to the Green Party.

The other co-founder, Rainer Kravets, previously served as a program manager at the Food Innovation Summit 2022, the largest alternative protein conference in the Nordics.

“When you look at that line up, I’m sure you’ll appreciate why Federated Farmers aren’t prepared to sit back and let some extreme activists question our commitment to our members.

“We’ve laid out the facts – and trust farmers are intelligent enough to come to their own conclusions about who’s really got their backs.”

Fair for Farmers spokesman and Waikato dairy farmers Wade Cavendish says NZ has made the democratic choice to ban practices like sow stalls and battery cages because they do not reflect Kiwi values.

“But more than 60% of the pork on our shelves is imported from countries still using the very systems we've outlawed.”

He says the Fair for Farmers campaign proposes a straightforward, commonsense fix to the “imports problem”: if it's illegal to produce here, it shouldn't be allowed to be sold here.

“We'd expect Federated Farmers to agree too. But in recent weeks, in public statements, their spokesperson has argued against restricting low-welfare imports - while also acknowledging our farmers are getting a raw deal. His solution? Better marketing and bigger stickers on bacon.

“Feds have got this one wrong, and we think the evidence shows it clearly.”

Matt Dilly, ANZ agri economist, says fuel has emerged as the most immediate pressure point following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

“The main impact of the Middle East conflict has been a stark shift from a stable input cost environment to a volatile one,” Dilly says.

Diesel prices have surged rapidly, with overseas benchmarks and local pump prices both rising sharply.

Fuel surcharges are already being applied across land, sea, and air transport, and those costs are flowing through quickly to farm budgets.

Forestry has been hit particularly hard - log harvesting, internal transport, and shipping are all fuel intensive, leaving the sector highly exposed to higher diesel prices.

Shipping costs to China have jumped sharply in recent weeks, the report said, eroding margins for an industry that has already endured several difficult years.

Dilly says higher fuel and cartage costs were expected to slow forestry activity if prices remained elevated, especially for smaller woodlot operators who have less ability to absorb cost shocks.

“Anecdotal reports suggest a decline in forestry activity is expected if fuel prices remain elevated,” he says.

Arable farming is also under pressure - several seasons of poor returns had already dented confidence before diesel and fertiliser costs surged again.

In some cases, higher diesel prices hit while crops were still being harvested, compounding the financial impact.

“There’s never a good time to face prices doubling on key inputs, but for New Zealand arable farmers it’s come at a particularly difficult time,” Dilly says.

The fertiliser outlook was adding to that concern - the Middle East is a major source of oil, gas and petrochemical feedstocks, and global urea prices have already roughly doubled.

“So far, local fertiliser prices have only risen slightly, but that is likely to change come spring,” he says.

The report states that fuel and fertiliser account for approximately 12% of total farm expenditure.

For sheep and beef farmers, fertiliser often became the first thing to cut back on when cashflow tightened - a decision that could reduce productivity over time rather than immediately.

While the jump in input costs is a clear challenge, the report noted that parts of the rural economy are starting from a position of genuine resilience.

Dairy and red meat prices remain elevated, providing a stronger income buffer than many farmers have had in recent years, even as costs rise.

ANZ has also recently revised up its forecast for the 2025/26 farmgate milk price to $9.85/kgMS, reflecting the lift in global dairy prices over the past few months.

Beef and lamb prices have also held steady at high levels, and optimism is building for this year’s apple and kiwifruit crops.

The report states confidence across the rural sector had softened as farmers reassessed spending plans, with some cashflow that might have gone into farm development or expansion instead being held back to buffer against rising costs and interest rate risk.

Freight disruption was adding another layer of uncertainty - cargo destined for the Middle East is being rerouted at extra cost, and fuel surcharges are becoming more common across shipping routes.

Container supply had not yet tightened, but Dilly warns that disruption could not be ruled out.

“Even in the unlikely event that the Strait fully reopens next week, it will take months or years for supply chains and markets to fully return to normal,” he says.

But it seems that the two main political parties are no closer to agreement.

An open letter signed by 28 exporters, including Beef + Lamb NZ, the Meat Industry Association and Apples & Pears NZ, calls for all MPs to support the agreement and provide certainty for growers, exporters and regional New Zealand.

National concluded the FTA in December but is yet to sign the deal because coalition partner New Zealand First withdraw support.

While the two main political parties are bickering, NZ exporters are eagerly waiting to tap into the market of 1.4 billion people.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he's waiting for a government response to their concerns.

"There are issues and inconsistencies that still need to be clarified by the Government to ensure any deal works in the long-term interest of New Zealanders," Hipkins told Rural News.

"Once we've received the details and worked through all the advice, we will discuss as a caucus and decide about whether to support the legislation."

Trade Minister Todd McClay says that it was pleasing to see the business and export community come out in such strong support of the deal and the opportunities it brings to all of New Zealand.

"I note support is growing, with twice the number of organisations in support since Monday," he told Rural News.

McClay says the Government will follow the normal process as with all trade agreements through the select committee process.

"This offers the public and all parties the opportunity to scrutinise the agreement in open prior to implementing legislation being considered.

"We have engaged with Labour for four months and the Prime Minister has committed for Ministers and officials to remain engaged with them in good faith."

But for farmers and growers, the delay in getting the FTA over the line is frustrating.

For the pipfruit sector, the milestone achievement in the proposed FTA includes a quota for New Zealand apples to receive a 50% reduction on tariffs, from 50% to 25%, during the window from 1 April to 31 August, focusing access on counter-seasonal supply to India's own apple industry. The reasonable quota allows for significant growth over the next six years.

Pear access into India also received a 50% reduction on tariffs, with no quota limitations.

New Zealand was the first nation to secure the inclusion of apples within an FTA with India, something New Zealand Apples and Pears chief executive Danielle Adsett describes as "no small feat".

"India has its own, vibrant apple industry that they are rightly protective of," Adsett told Rural News.

"The inclusion of apples within this FTA is a huge win for our sector. Our industry was deeply engaged with the negotiation team during discussions, and we are confident in the result for our sector.

"However, timing is critical. India has signed further agreements since ours and if the ratification of ours is pushed out to post-election, then we run the very real risk of losing our edge."

For his part, Winston Peters is doubling down on his opposition to the deal.

He's also criticised the business sector for signing the open letter to politicians.

"How on earth can there be any sort of proper analysis of the FTA if they haven't even read the agreement?

"This is tantamount to those businesses signing a contract blindfolded.

"This is an appalling image for the professionalism of New Zealand business leadership."

The UK Agri-Tech Centre’s Global Growth Accelerator will introduce a select group of UK dairy and livestock innovators to New Zealand, where their technologies will be piloted directly on local farms through FIN’s nationwide network of progressive farmers.

Delivered by the UK Agri-Tech Centre, and in collaboration with Agnition Ventures and AgriTech New Zealand, the programme creates a new international pathway for promising agritech solutions to be validated in one of the world’s most advanced pasture-based farming environments.

For New Zealand farmers, the programme provides early access to emerging technologies not yet available locally, with supported pilot trials allowing farmers to test innovations with minimal risk while helping shape products through realworld feedback. These technologies have already proven themselves on UK farms, delivering both technical performance and real on-farm value. Now UK companies are bringing them to NZ to pilot in local conditions, work directly with farmers, and refine them for our farming systems before broader rollout.

It also leverages the counter-seasonality between the UK and New Zealand, enabling innovators to continue testing technologies year-round and accelerating development cycles that would otherwise stall during the northern hemisphere off-season.

Jasper van Halder, chief executive of Agnition Ventures and chief innovation officer at Ravensdown, said the programme highlights the important role New Zealand farmers play in shaping the next generation of agricultural technology.

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the new regulations replace a "one-size-fits-all rule", instead opting for local decision-making based on local risks and conditions.

"The previous approach was widely seen as inflexible and, in some regions, disproportionate to the environmental benefit," McClay says.

Regulation 17 of the Resource Management (Stock Exclusion) Regulations, which relates to natural wetlands that support threatened species, has been amended so that it no longer applies to beef cattle and deer that are not intensively grazing.

The previous rule required all stock to be excluded from natural wetlands supporting threatened species, regardless of farming intensity.

Regional councils and unitary authorities remain responsible for managing and enforcing stock exclusion rules and may adopt stock exclusion requirements in their regional plans.

Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard says that a well-managed, low-intensity grazing regime near a wetland provides continuous, natural weed control which can replace the need for chemicals.

“The costs of protecting the area could be out of proportion to the environmental gain," Hoggard says. "This is why we are focusing more on delivering fit-for-purpose farm plans where the actions are more tailored to the risks on-farm and the specific catchment, rather than a one size fits all regime from Wellington."

The amendment is part of a suite of changes this Government has made to Stock Exclusion Regulations and national direction under the Resource Management Act.

The special dividend is separate from Pāmu’s standard dividend policy and reflects a non-operating capital receipt, rather than core trading activity.

Including the special dividend, Pāmu will have paid $25 million in dividends to the Crown in the 2025/26 financial year.

Mark Leslie, chief executive of Pāmu, says the payment is reflective of disciplined capital management and continued balance sheet resilience.

"Strong performance across the business has delivered a net operating profit of $26 million at the half year, with Pāmu on track for a record full-year profit of between $97 million and $107 million," Leslie says.

"As we reach the midpoint of our five-year reset, this performance has given the board confidence to make this payment," he adds.

Leslie says that in the past three years the state farmer has focused on lifting on-farm performance, improving productivity, and running a tighter, more disciplined business.

"The results we're seeing reflect the commitment and hard work of our teams across the country," he says.

"As a State-Owned Enterprise, Pāmu manages its land and farming portfolio to deliver a financial return, return land under Te Tiriti o Waitangi settlements, and grow the future of agriculture for generations of New Zealanders," Leslie says.

"Our strong commercial performance requires high people, environmental, and animal welfare outcomes, as well as responsibility for the communities in which we operate."