Over the past three years, FMG has received more than 100 tractor fire claims linked to birds' nests. That is 32% of all tractor fire claims in the period.

Most of the claims come during the starling breeding season, which typically runs from September through to December.

"Starlings are incredibly resourceful when it comes to finding a place to nest. They can squeeze into surprisingly small spaces and build a nest much faster than people expect," says FMG Loss Prevention Manager Abby France.

"With dry grass readily available on farm, a bird can build a nest in the time it takes you to stop for smoko or have a cup of tea."

Risk Ahead of Silage Season

"Tractor fires can be devastating," France says. "Not only can you lose a valuable piece of machinery, but the disruption can have a significant impact on day-to-day farm operations, especially as we head into bailage and silage season."

Nests have also caused fires in quad bikes, side-by-sides, cars, utes and other machinery, she says.

The Stop & Pop Check

FMG's long-running Stop & Pop campaign asks operators to stop, pop the bonnet and check for nests before they start work.

"It's a quick check that can prevent a costly and potentially dangerous fire," France says.

She says leaving the bonnet up when machinery is parked can also help discourage nesting. FMG also recommends fitting tractors and other machinery with a suitable, easily accessible fire extinguisher, and making sure operators know how to use it.

"Tractor fires can spread quickly and rural fire crews aren't always able to reach a property before significant damage has occurred. A fire extinguisher may give you the best chance of stopping a small fire before it gets out of control, but always put your safety first."

Keep Driveways Clear for Fire Crews

France also urged farmers to clear back overgrown trees around driveways. A standard fire appliance needs 4 metres of clearance to access a property.

"You don't want them stuck only a few hundred metres from being able to fight your fire," she says.

FMG provides free Stop & Pop stickers, which can be ordered through the FMG Stop & Pop page.

“Ravensdown is one of our strongest South Island based cooperatives in agriculture, so we’re thrilled about that partnership,” Carter says.

The farmer-owned fertiliser co-operative has signed a two-year deal for the show to be known as the Ravensdown Canterbury A&P Show. It will run this year from November 11 to 13.

The country’s largest A&P show has had a rocky few years, struggling through Mycoplasma bovis restrictions, a Covid cancellation, and the upheavals of 2024 when the then board proposed to cancel the public show because of financial pressures. That was reversed by a change in board membership including the appointment of Carter as chair, and bringing in events company Event Hire to the run the public show.

However, Event Hire’s recipe included moving the show’s traditional dates within the Canterbury Show Week, which proved problematic.

“We tried the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, we’ve returned now very much to the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,” says Carter.

“That is suiting our rural exhibitors and it’s setting our members as well. They didn’t like the Saturday show.”

Carter says the Show was also on a more secure financial footing since the 2024 deal in which CAPA sold back to the Christchurch City Council the lease on five hectares of land near the Agricultural Park. $1 million of the sale price repaid a loan to the council and $4 million went into a capital protected charitable investment trust now providing ongoing income.

“We’ve now restored financial stability to the organisation which wasn’t there when we became involved,” he says.

Ravensdown chief executive Garry Diack said the co-op was proud to support the “farmer-first” direction of the event.

“For generations, the Canterbury A&P Show has celebrated the best of New Zealand farming. As the new naming rights partner, Ravensdown is proud to help ensure that tradition continues for future generations.

“As a co-operative with deep roots in Canterbury, it feels like a natural fit for us to support an event that showcases the region’s agricultural sector and the people behind it. The Show is where farmers, growers, rural businesses and the wider community come together to share ideas, celebrate success and look to the future.

“The Show has always been an important way for us to connect with our shareholders. Showing up matters, and this partnership is another way we can back the people and events that help keep rural Canterbury strong,” said Diack.

That’s the challenge that scientists at the Bioeconomy Science Institute have taken on to see if existing drones or a special one could make nest removal safer, faster and easier in areas which are high risk for humans to deal with the problem.

Drones equipped with thermal imaging equipment are already being used to pin-point concealed nests, but this new research is designed to see if drones can be used to destroy the nests.

 Dr Justin Nairn, who is leading the project, says the research aims to add a new tool to New Zealand’s biosecurity toolkit. He says the team is currently assessing whether commercially available drones can be adapted for the task, or if a custom, purpose-built system is required.

“Removing hornet and wasp nests from heights or challenging terrain poses a significant risk to pest control contractors. A remotely operated system would allow them to treat nests from a safe distance, with their feet firmly on the ground. One innovative approach being explored involves equipping a drone with a specialised lance to pierce a nest and inject insecticide directly inside,” he says.

 Nairn says this mechanism would replicate current manual eradication methods without requiring contractors to put themselves in harm’s way by working at heights and around the dangerous nests.

He says the research builds on the widespread use of drones for pest management in NZ. It will consider systems trialled overseas, such as drones fitted with precision sprays and flame throwers, but Nairn says NZ requires a highly tailored approach.

“This project is focused on finding the right solution for our unique environment – one that is highly effective, practical and meets New Zealand’s safety, environmental, biosecurity and aviation requirements,” he says.

Nairn says his team expects to identify its preferred drone system within a year, although he says the project could be accelerated if the technology is urgently needed to support the current hornet response.

Fung joined the Synlait board as a director in 2024, chaired its People, Environment and Governance Committee from November 2025 and was appointed acting CEO following the resignation of Richard Wyeth in May this year.

Confirmed as CEO on October 21, the Auckland-domiciled Fung says he will now relocate.

“I am committing myself to Synlait. Relocating to Christchurch, close to the factory, close to the team, is definitely one of those commitments I make,” he told Rural News.

Fung holds an executive MBA from Fudan University in China and a master’s degree in dairy technology from Massey University. With his first job out of Massey being a plant operator at a dairy factory in Whangarei, Fung now has 30 years of experience in the dairy and nutrition industries, spanning technical manufacturing, marketing, startups for various owners, and a number of executive roles.

“Dairy is part of my life,” he says.

Fung has taken over after the company reported a $75 million loss for the last financial year, albeit with a return to a modest profit in the second half.

He said Synlait would not publish any forecast for the current year because it was transitioning from an August to July financial reporting year to a January to December calendar year, starting in 2027.

But he said the company was on the right track.

“The August and September months were all performing well, and in fact we beat our budget in those two months.”

Speaking with 10 days still to go, October also looked to be another good month, he said.

“So, it does give me a lot of confidence, and gives the team confidence, that we’re going to be good.”

Synlait’s net loss of $75.4 million for the last financial year was its fourth loss in five years due to debt and operational and manufacturing setbacks. An ill-fated expansion into the North Island has ended with the sale of its North Island assets including a processing factory at Pokeno.

Fung said that even before he started as acting CEO, it was very clear that Synlait wanted to stabilise and simplify, then scale back up from a stable base.

“We’re following the roadmap very clearly and nicely. For example, we are stabilising the operation and product quality.

“We see very good progress on that and the improvement on the financial figures in the last few months demonstrate that.”

Fung said he built several factories in his previous jobs.

“Synlait’s factory is good. It’s advanced and well maintained. It’s relatively new technology so I think there’s no reason that we cannot do better again.

“What’s also important, the people here in Synlait are very committed as well.”

Fung said that Synlait had always been profitable before the North Island investment, and successfully divesting the Pokeno plant allowed the company to refocus on its Canterbury roots.

It was now looking to diversify around the nutritional products which were among its greatest strengths.

That would include a move into adult nutrition, with “healthy ageing” products now identified as a growth area.

Fung said that supplying infant formula to China was much more restrictive now than it was 10 years ago in terms of safety and quality standards.

 “If we are successfully supplying the infant formula product for China market it means that we are more competitive in other markets, and in other product categories.”

Synlait was moving into the Middle East with a significant customer for infant formula signed up in Saudi Arabia, and new customers also interested in Southeast Asia.

There was also strong interest in Southeast Asia for whipping cream, which was enjoying a lot of success in China.

The organisation is encouraging shoppers who want a New Zealand ham this Christmas to order early and read the label, because a ham made here, or sold under a familiar Kiwi brand, may not be made from New Zealand pork.

“A New Zealand ham is a delicious way to celebrate Christmas and support our pig farmers,” says NZPork chair Mark Hooper.

“If that’s what you want on your table, now is a good time to ask your butcher or supermarket and place your order.”

How Much Pork Is Imported?

Hooper says around 60% of the pork eaten in New Zealand is imported.

Almost all fresh pork in supermarkets is from New Zealand, he says, but imported pork is widely used in bacon and ham.

Ordering early gives shoppers time to find a ham made from pork born and raised in New Zealand.

How Do You Check A Ham Label?

The key, Hooper says, is to check where the pig was raised, not just where the ham was made. Country-of-origin labelling has applied to fresh and thawed bacon and ham since 2022, and to frozen products since 2023.

The origin statement must be clear and legible, but it doesn’t have to be on the front of the pack. A ham can say “Made in New Zealand” on the front, with a list of possible source countries in small print on the back.

NZPork suggests these checks:

• Find the country-of-origin statement on the pack or the sign beside the product.
• Look for wording that this pork was born and raised in New Zealand, or that lists New Zealand as the only country where the pigs were raised.
• Look for NZPork's "100% NZ" ham label or the PigCare label. PigCare also indicates the pork comes from New Zealand farms accredited under the industry's animal welfare assurance programme.
• If several possible countries are listed, that doesn't confirm New Zealand origin.
• If you're unsure, ask your retailer.

What Does the Published Product Information Show?

NZPork says published product information for two of New Zealand’s biggest brands shows why individual products should be checked.

It says Hellers uses “NZ’s Butcher” branding, but its Sliced Ham off the Bone page lists pork raised in any one or more of Canada, Denmark, Germany, Spain and the USA. Hellers also offers a separate NZ Free Farmed ham range.

It says Beehive promotes “NZ’s most delicious” meats, but its Champagne Ham page lists pigs raised in one or more of 14 countries, not including New Zealand.

What Does NZPork Want Changed?

NZPork research shows 88& of New Zealanders believe “Made in NZ” should mean the animal was born and raised here.

Hooper says the Government has acknowledged NZPork’s concerns that some branding may mislead shoppers but has ruled out changing the law.

He says Parliament’s Regulations Review Committee has recommended the Government consider changing the rules to avoid confusing labelling.

“Country-of-origin labelling for pork products, including bacon and ham, must be clear, accurate, prominent and enforceable, so shoppers can easily tell where their pork comes from,” he says. “We want the incoming Government to tackle this issue head on.”

At the Rural Contractors conference in Christchurch, held in June, members supported a campaign to secure a rapid change to the regulations governing vehicle dimensions and mass (VDAMs).

At the time, Rural Contractors NZ CEO Andrew Olsen noted that some of his members had faced fines of $10,000 and more for agricultural vehicles being deemed too heavy for roads under rules more than a decade old.

“Our members’ tractors and other machines have got heavier but the transport regulations are such that they can be overweight before they leave the showroom, let alone with implements on board,” said Olsen.

The RCNZ Association estimates that around 750 to 800 agricultural machines are currently affected by the out-of-date rules. Olsen explained, “They are not unsafe or damaging the roads. In Australia, the US and the EU, these machines operate lawfully but the Government has dragged its heels in finding a solution.”

The new rules propose to exempt rigid agricultural vehicles (excluding vehicles towing goods) from gross weight and mass limits, subject to specific restrictions to protect critical infrastructure such as bridges.

Associate Transport Minister James Meager says consultation has begun on 28 proposals to change heavy vehicle rules, including agricultural vehicles, to generally reduce compliance costs and improve productivity.

Rural Contractor NZ has been campaigning for changes, based on the premise that the current VDAM rules haven’t kept pace with the increasing size of machinery and amid a rigid permitting system.

 OIsen says the Land Transport Rules Reform consultation document details how in the five years to June 2026, the NZTA processed almost 700 overweight permit applications for agricultural vehicles, of which, only 46 were declined because of the risk of exceeding structure limits such as maximum bridge weights.

“This many approvals translates to an unnecessary rubber-stamping process which can be safely removed, providing productivity improvements for the vast majority of agricultural contractors,” says Olsen. “The exemption, now being proposed by NZTA, should further reduce the number of agricultural vehicles that require a permit and further reduce again when rules on vehicle dimension and mass are further reviewed in a later phase of consultation.”

The consultation document suggests that exemptions for agricultural vehicles be subject to route or structure restrictions as set by road controlling authorities, mostly NZTA or councils.

“Our members will be thankful the Government has responded on this issue even if it’s taken longer than is ideal,” says Olsen. “We are now asking that the changes be implemented in time for the next season starting in spring 2027 and the authorities enforcing the current out of date regulations, don’t hammer our members in the interim.”

A Dutch environmental group claims New Zealand has broken its climate change promises in the free trade agreement with the EU and is lodging the first complaint of its kind through the European Commission.

The group, Both ENDS, is using the complaints mechanism known as Single Entry Point and the most extreme consequences could be NZ losing access to the lucrative European market.

While the group is seeking compliance rather than the suspension of trade benefits, its actions have drawn fierce criticism from the Government coalition partners.

But Balasingham says that rather than treating European climate scrutiny under the EU trade agreement as a regulatory threat, New Zealand has an immediate opportunity to turn it into a $15.8 billion pastoral export advantage—without taxes, herd culls, or farm regulation.

Methane and urinary nitrogen are not merely environmental liabilities, they represent lost protein, dietary energy, and farmer profit, says Balasingham.

He claims his product, Biozest operates by optimising rumen metabolic efficiency, enabling livestock to convert more pasture protein into high value milk and meat solids rather than excess urinary urea and methane.

“What makes this biological approach unique is that farm gate profitability and environmental stewardship stem from the exact same underlying process—requiring no capital expenditure, no herd culls, and no changes to farm infrastructure,” he told Rural News.

His company has collated field trial data, peer-reviewed science, and economic modelling into a master blueprint titled ‘A Leadership Proposition for New Zealand’s Pastoral Future’.

It states that scaling this technology across NZ’s pasture network offers the potential to deliver additional $15.8b pastoral export value and reduce nitrate leaching and biological emissions intensity directly at the source.

The Green Party is also targeting the dairy sector, promising to force farmers to reduce synthetic N usage if elected. The Government is accusing the Greens of supporting the complaint filed with the European Commission.

But Balasingham says the science exists, the lead farms are actively operating, and the macroeconomic modelling is robust.

“Our focus is squarely on increasing productivity while simultaneously addressing environmental concerns, helping farmers deliver on international trade expectations,” he says.

“Proven New Zealand-made products like Biozest help us show overseas markets, particularly Europe, that our farming stands up to scrutiny. That protects farmers’ access to valuable export markets and gives them a practical tool that earns its keep on the farm.”

Next year, Massey will celebrate its centenary, and Venter says over those 100 years it has made a massive contribution to the NZ primary sector by way of the people it has educated, the research it has undertaken and partnerships made within the sector. In future, he says the university will position itself to become the country’s most applied and connected tertiary institute.

This will be done by re-energising the three Massey campuses, improving the learning journey for students and being up to date with emerging technologies to keep pace with the changing environment. The goal of all of this is to support the primary industry with a focus on value creation.

“Our role is to provide the right capability, capacity and innovation at the right time that enables the development of solutions for the challenges that we face in our communities, our industries and services and society,” he told Rural News.

To effectively support the primary sector, Venter says Massey must partner and be well connected with the primary sector. He says it must understand its problems and help solve them as they have done for 100 years. It must have the ability to support the whole value chain in a NZ context, including the differentiation of our products on the global market.

“I am a firm believer that a good university partner should be able to support all of the value chain and not just a part of it, because everything in the value chain is interconnected. Massey is well placed to be the university partner for the primary sector,” he says.

Venter says some people talk about the supply chain, but he says the term value chain is more appropriate. He says there’s been talk that NZ primary exporters should look at the concept of fork to farm – meaning our exporters should focus on the ever-changing demands of the consumers. But he says the better alternative is the farm to fork concept which is market led.

“Market led is trend based and an example of this is high-quality protein. Consumption globally for this is a market trend, not a fad. Consumer led preferences change very quickly, so today something that is sweet is popular, but tomorrow it could be something without sugar. It’s very hard to set up primary industries to be led by consumers, hence NZ’s primary industries are set up to be market led,” he says.

Delivering at Every Level

Venter says Massey University is an iconic institute in that the people that graduate from it are involved in virtually every aspect of the primary industries value chain.

He says if you look at that value chain, it’s hard to find a place or a leader that doesn’t have a connection with Massey.

He says, at the farm level, Massey delivers heavily in terms of training and research, soils, pasture and animals, and points out that it’s rated globally for both agriculture and horticulture. Venter says once the basic products have been produced on the farm, orchard or land, Massey plays a big part in converting these into a multitude of high-quality consumer products.

He says these can range from high-quality food or fibre products to solutions in the post-harvest area.

“Look at all the meat and dairy processing plants we have scattered throughout the country. We contribute substantially to the design of those plants because they are quite specific to NZ and you can’t just copy and paste from somewhere else in the world because our products are different. That is a very specialist area and there is only one university that really supports the food technology and the people run them,” he says.

Venter also says Massey hosts the Riddet Institute, recognised globally in the field of food science. The other school at Massey that plays a vital role in the NZ value chain is the Vet Schools. He says that without vets there would be no meat or dairy exports.

Venter is also quick to identify another dimension of the value chain to which Massey contributes. It has an aviation school and many of the pilots that fly our exports to market have been trained at the school.

To develop a value chain, Venter emphasises the importance of having the right business models to navigate the different markets. He says that is where the university’s business school, based at the Albany campus in Auckland, plays an important role – especially with its Business MBA.

The final link in the chain is where Massey’s College of Creative Arts kicks in, producing graduates in the area of industrial design who go on to develop a range of in-market promotional material.

Communication Skills

Venter says while Massey University offers a wide range of technical courses, in the end these need to be backed up by what are often termed ‘soft skills’ such as communication.

He says the industry wants graduates who can work in multi-disciplinary, multicultural, multi-agency teams across the world and within NZ.

 “Generally, the people in these teams have good technical knowledge, but what they find hard is developing the communication skills which are critical to problem solving,” he says.

Venter says it comes down to people and this is where Massey comes in strongly – looking after people and giving them the skills to understand themselves and others and to realise their potential.

Former Minister of the Crown, diplomat, still a farmer and now chair of the globally recognised Riddet Institute, Sir Lockwood Smith says the red meat sector is going through a good phase now with prices, especially for beef.

He says he can’t recall such a good period since the wool boom of the 1950s.

He says there is an air of confidence in the sector and an interest in the fact that it can do better, which he says is really good to see.

“If I had one criticism of the industry, it would be that there is not enough investment in researching new products from our red meat. Whereas I observe Fonterra and the dairy industry investing hugely in new food products, the risk the meat industry faces is that it could be seen as being caught up with the issues of today rather than thinking about the future,” he says.

Smith says new high value cuts of meat are being developed to sell in high-end markets, which is good, but this is still just cutting meat. He says the dairy industry is creating all sorts of valuable new products from milk and the meat industry needs to find products that are worth far more than the traditional steak.

According to Smith, research is needed into what he calls the 5th quarter of the carcass – meaning the blood and other organs and creating new products.

He says while there an awareness of this, he doesn’t see enough research going into it yet.

Smith says the Riddet Institute has done some outstanding work on what are called Digestible Indispensable Amino Acids that show that red meat protein is better than protein derived from plants. This research shows that red meat proteins are readably digestible whereas plant proteins aren’t. He says the other great advantage of red meat is its iron content.

“A huge number of women globally are deficient in iron and of course red meat is a wonderful source of iron. It’s a global problem and woman die because they don’t get enough iron, and it’s also problem for woman in NZ. We need to have the research to show that people need more iron and red meat and red meat offers all to these nutritional benefits,” he says

Smith says times in the past haven’t been easy for the red meat sector, but with the present upturn in the fortunes, serious thought needs to go into investing more money into food science R&D to unlock new opportunities and keep ahead of our competitors.

Beeby, who took over as CEO in July this year, says he’s loving his new role working with the meat processors, understanding their challenges and helping them navigate these.

Before joining MIA, Beeby was CEO of the NZ Meat Board and before that the general manager, market development with Beef+Lamb NZ.

He says nowadays there is a real common understanding of the nature of the challenges and that requires the industry as a whole to work together.

“Some of the challenges are too big for individual companies to navigate,” he told Rural News.

Beeby says NZ processors are working more with like-minded countries that have similar production systems. Ireland is a good example of this. Beeby says the fact that NZ is starting to do that is a sign that the industry here is maturing.

Going forward, Beeby says there is not one particular factor that will make the gains that the industry is seeking.

“You can’t isolate one thing like science or product development or anything like that. Everything has to work together for our sector to be successful and that includes the human element as well,” he says.

In this regard, he points to the recent MIA conference where a meat carcass was ‘disassembled’ on stage before an audience of more than 300 people.

Beeby says it showed the absolute skill and passion of a lamb boner meticulously turning a carcass into individual cuts for different markets, and create huge value beyond just selling an individual carcass.

“This dramatically highlighted and the impact that one person can have on the value of the overall carcass. What I think is so fascinating about the industry is that it takes everything - science, product development and companies working together to maximise the value of as lamb carcass,” he says.

Beeby says the red meat industry is the largest manufacturing group in NZ employing more than 25,000 people and plays a crucial role in the economy of rural areas. He says while it’s important to get this message out to politicians and decision makers in Wellington, the industry needs to play a bigger role in getting this out to the wider public and highlight the skills of the people who work in it.

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay opened the facility, which houses a near-$5 million programme co-funded by the Government. The lab will be used to develop Hectre’s next-generation Arc camera, designed to identify the internal defects of a piece of fruit by using light to read maturity, starch content and firmness through the skin.

Hectre’s technology will solve one of the biggest issues in the world’s billion-dollar fruit industry and will allow packhouses to decide earlier what to store, what to pack and what to ship. Fruit will therefore reach the market in better condition, with less waste.

“Hectre is the world leader in fruit colour and grade detection, but reading for internal defects is a much trickier problem,” says CEO Matty Blomfield.

“But solving it is vital. Understanding the internal structures of fruit being shipped allows packhouses to make smart decisions around how to store, pack and ship their product. It reduces avoidable waste and brings value back to the growers and packhouses.”

The research programme is a three-year project led by Hectre, with co-investment by the Government through the Primary Sector Growth Fund. Hectre is funding the balance.

The programme targets a proof-of-concept algorithm with at least 80% detection accuracy by June 2027, and a packhouse prototype validated under commercial conditions by June 2028.

Hectre’s existing Arc camera scans fruit as trucks arrive at packhouse intake, returning sizing, colour and external quality data in near real time.

Packhouses in 22 countries use it, and the data covers billions of pieces of fruit each year, with accuracy approaching 99% from samples some 200 times larger than manual methods allow.

The laboratory opening caps a year in which Hectre closed an oversubscribed $12m Series A, led by Punakaiki Fund, alongside Cultivate Ventures, Nuance and private investors.

Hectre won two categories at the 2026 Hi-Tech Awards, taking Most Innovative Hi-Tech Agritech Solution, sponsored by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, and Hi-Tech Kamupene Māori o te Tau, Māori Company of the Year. The company was a finalist in three categories.

Groundswell co-founder Bryce McKenzie told Rural News that farmers are worried that there could be a return to unworkable freshwater regulations that were introduced under the last Labour government.

“It’s fair to say farmers are very apprehensive and certainly concerned that there could be a centre-left government, especially when they are talking about going back to the (former Labour Environment Minister) David Parker’s unworkable freshwater regulations as a starting base for their national policy statement (NPS) on fresh water.”

McKenzie says another major concern is that whichever government gets in, more money will be poured into AgriZero, a partnership between the government and primary sector players to invest in methane reduction technology.

“Whoever gets in will persevere with AgriZero and their crazy witch hunt of ruminant methane reduction.”

He says the influence of the Paris climate change agreement on farming remains a major concern.

While both ACT and New Zealand First support withdrawing from the Paris Accord, National is sticking with it.

In a Facebook post last week, Groundswell reminded its 67,000 followers about the MMP system and how it matters more this election.

“As always, Groundswell isn’t here to tell you how to vote, but for those who are considering which one of the coalition parties to support, it’s worth thinking about the actual effect your party vote could have on the next Parliament.

“If National wins more electorates than the number of seats their share of the party vote would give them, another party vote for them won’t contribute to more seats in the coalition.”

The farmer lobby last week released its 'Voter Guide'.

It covers each of the 25 policies included in Federated Farmers' list of election priorities in its 'Backing Kiwi Farmers' document and political parties' position on each policy.

It covers everything from tax and pest management right through to water storage and local government reform.

New Zealand First supports all the policies with National and ACT closely behind. Labour is unclear on 15 policies while the Greens don't back farmers' positions on some environmental issues. Both parties also oppose Feds' calls for fixing the way local governments are run. Like Labour, Opportunity is also unclear about supporting Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms.

Feds president Colin Hurst told Rural News that the voter guide is just that - a guide.

"We're not telling any farmers who to vote for this election. They're more capable of making that decision themselves.

"What we are trying to do is to make it as simple and easy as possible to look up the policies they care most about and make an informed decision.

"Our message to farmers this election is simple - get out and vote."

Based on the responses from parties, there are a few clear areas of concern this election.

Hurst says the first is RMA reform and what that could look like if there is a change of government.

"We've seen a real commitment from the current coalition to cut red tape, reduce unnecessary costs and simplify farming rules with permitted activity standards.

"Unfortunately, we haven't seen that same commitment from Labour, Opportunity, or the Greens - in fact, there are some real question marks. Their policy is very unclear.

"The second policy area where there is a clear left/right divide is local government reform - and the contrast is quite stark when you see it laid out on paper.

"Parties on the right have a clear commitment to cutting local government bureaucracy, protecting property rights, and removing joint decision-making with unelected groups.

"There's a clear ideological difference with the parties on the left, who seem to have a very different vision for local government and resource management reform."

Hurst agrees that with a change of government, these once-in-a-generation reforms will be at serious risk - and that would be bad news for farmers and rural communities.

However, there are a few things on Federated Farmers' wish list that has the support of all parties, like supporting young farmers, teaching ag in rural schools, reviewing sharemilking agreement legislation and vocational training.

That is encouraging, says Hurst.

"Particularly when it comes to things like supporting young farmers, empowering community conservation, and enabling technology and infrastructure.

"Some of these are very important issues for the future of our rural communities - controlling pests, modernising the Sharemilking Act, vocational education, and looking at how we teach agriculture in schools.

"These aren't particularly contentious or hot-button political issues, so it's great to see cross-party support. That means no matter who wins the election, we're likely to see good progress."

Year 11 Agriculture and Horticultural Science will be an optional subject alongside compulsory Science, Stanford says, letting students develop specialist knowledge and pursue their interests earlier.

It will complement the existing Agriculture and Horticultural Science subjects at Years 12 and 13, and the new industry-led Food and Fibre subject being developed for those years.

Schools will decide whether to offer it, so they can respond to the needs and interests of their students and communities.

Why the Change?

Stanford says the Ministry of Education’s original intention was that schools could teach Year 11 Science through an agriculture and horticulture lens.

Since the new Year 11 Science curriculum was released, feedback from rural school principals, teachers and the primary sector made it clear that approach could not provide the flexibility originally envisaged, and that the subject would be better delivered as a standalone.

“We’ve listened to that feedback,” she says. “New Zealand’s primary industries are the backbone of our economy and a major driver of our exports. We want more young people to see the opportunities available in these industries and develop the knowledge and skills they need to pursue rewarding, high-paying careers.”

What Happens Next?

The Ministry will work with subject matter experts to develop the subject, along with teaching and assessment resources and implementation support for teachers.

Public consultation on the new Year 11 subject is expected to begin in the coming weeks.

How Has the Sector Reacted?

DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker, who also chairs Agribusiness in Schools, called the decision positive.

“Studying agriculture and horticulture from Year 11 will help young people see the breadth of opportunities across our primary sector and build pathways into further study and careers,” he says.

He adds that he is pleased “the voices of teachers and industry have been heard”.

The New Zealand Veterinary Association Te Pae Kīrehe (NZVA) is urging voters to consider political parties’ views on whether private fireworks sales and use should continue, or be limited to professional use and public displays.

NZVA Chief Executive Kevin Bryant says the timing is right to revisit the debate.

Why Are Vets Raising Concerns About Fireworks?

Bryant says the issue goes beyond frightened pets. He describes “a regulatory system that has failed to adequately manage foreseeable risks to animals, people, property and emergency responders.”

The NZVA points to documented impacts including:

• Injuries to pets, livestock, horses and wildlife, some severe enough to require euthanasia.
• Animal escapes and traffic accidents
• Deaths of zoo animals
• Reports of native birds abandoning nests, as Guy Fawkes coincides with the breeding season for many species.

Bryant also notes that New Zealand has no national system for recording fireworks-related injuries, so the full annual toll is unknown.

How Are Horses Affected?

NZVA Equine Veterinarians Branch president Rob Hitchcock says horses are particularly vulnerable because of their strong flight response. Guy Fawkes coincides with peak foaling season, the show season, spring racing and yearling preparation.

He says vets attend multiple incidents each year in which horses are injured trying to bolt through fences or barriers, “not infrequently resulting in euthanasia.”

Where Does NZ's Fireworks Law Stand?

New Zealand is among a relatively small group of developed countries that still allow private sale and year-round public use of fireworks.

Earlier this year, the Government rejected a recommendation from Parliament’s Petition Committee to end private sale and use while keeping professionally managed public displays. The recommendation followed petitions signed by more than 95,000 New Zealanders.

Bryant says veterinarians, animal welfare organisations and Fire and Emergency New Zealand have made their positions clear.

What Does the NZVA Want?

The association says people can still enjoy spectacular fireworks. It wants them moved “from thousands of unpredictable private locations into licensed, professionally managed, notified public events.”

“People can’t realistically prepare their animals for fireworks going off intermittently over several days or weeks,” Bryant says.

His closing question to politicians: “Will the next government make 2026 the last year fireworks are sold to the public?”

The co-operative says it achieved the result in a year of global pressure, while investing to make sure shareholders had the products they needed, when they needed them, and to strengthen New Zealand-based manufacturing.

Operating EBITDA rose 5.8% to $35.4 million. Revenue was $922 million, up 8.8%, and gross profit was $202.9 million, up 9.4%.

Farmlands gross turnover rose 8.5% to $2.8 billion. Farmlands Group turnover, which includes the joint ventures Fern Energy and Farmlands Flex that are not consolidated in the financial statements, rose 5.3% to $3.2 billion.

Net Profit Boosted by Tax Benefit

Reported net profit after tax was $21.2 million. That includes a one-off, non-cash deferred tax benefit of $16.7 million, which Farmlands says reflects expectations of enough future taxable profits to use the deferred tax asset.

Chief executive Tanya Houghton says the tax recognition is a positive signal of progress under the group’s long-term strategy and of the confidence of the business and board in Farmlands’ continuing growth and profitability.

Farmlands also says the reported figures absorbed the first-quarter result and the acquisition costs of Donaghys, and that underlying trading was stronger than the reported numbers show.

“Our strategy is about serving our shareholders today while building a more resilient co-operative for tomorrow,” Houghton says.

“We’ve lifted operating earnings at the same time as investing in the business. That is encouraging progress, with our focus firmly on turning those investments into future sustained earnings and greater value for shareholders.”

Donaghys Acquisition

A significant development in the year was the acquisition of Donaghys in March 2026, which Farmlands says expands its New Zealand-based manufacturing, animal health research and product development capabilities.

Alongside SealesWinslow and its wider nutrition business, the co-operative says the purchase strengthens its ability to develop products for New Zealand farming conditions and creates new sources of value and future earnings.

“Donaghys gives us greater influence over the products we bring to market and their supply, while keeping important expertise and manufacturing capability in New Zealand hands,” Houghton says.

Donaghys was acquired late in the financial year and contributed a small loss alongside acquisition costs in FY26, reflecting the seasonal timing of its earnings. FY27 will include a full year of ownership.

Owned Brands and Energy

Farmlands says customer numbers for its owned brands grew, by 171% for Top Paddock and 62.9% for AgStar.

Farmlands Flex, the solar technology joint venture, completed its first full year of trading, with 101 systems sold and 55 sites fully operational.

The co-operative also expanded its central distribution network, which it says supported more efficient purchasing, stock management and distribution, and helped it manage supply chain pressures.

Operating Cashflow Down

Operating cashflow fell 37.9% to $16.2 million, from $26.1 million in FY25.

Farmlands says this reflects, in part, a deliberate investment in inventory to give farmers and growers greater surety of supply during the uncertainty created by the global fuel crisis. Year-end inventory was nearly $20 million higher than the previous year, with about $10 million acquired with Donaghys and the balance a planned stock build.

The co-operative also invested more than $10 million in capital during the year, continuing its commitment to nutrition, where it says farmer and lifestyle demand continues to grow.

“Planning ahead and investing in supply gives our shareholders greater confidence that the products they need will be available when they need them,” Houghton says.

Chair on Balance and Community

Chair Rob Hewett says the result balanced financial sustainability against investments that ensure the co-operative is ready for what is ahead.

“Our responsibility is to keep Farmlands delivering clear benefits for the farmers and growers who own it,” he says.

Hewett also pointed to the Rural Support Trust’s ignite platform, which gives free mental health and wellbeing support to rural communities, as one way Farmlands has supported farmers and their families beyond the farm gate.

Outlook

Looking ahead to FY27, Houghton says Farmlands will keep focusing on improving the profitability and efficiency of its core business and realising the benefits of recent investments.

“We remain confident in our approach and look forward to continuing to deliver on what matters to shareholders: everyday value today, dependable supply and a co-operative with the financial foundations to support their businesses now and into the future,” she says.

The public-private partnership says it has now invested more than $100 million since it was established in 2023, to speed up the development and deployment of tools that help farmers reduce emissions without compromising productivity or profitability.

AgriZeroNZ chief executive Wayne McNee says the milestone shows both the scale of innovation under way and the investment needed to turn promising science into practical tools for farmers.

“Reducing emissions while maintaining productivity, profitability and global competitiveness remains one of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand agriculture,” he says.

“Helping farmers meet that challenge requires practical emissions reduction tools and significant, sustained investment to get them to market. The progress we’re seeing across our portfolio gives us confidence there will be a range of tools available by 2030.”

AgriZeroNZ’s portfolio covers companies and research projects developing genetics, inhibitors, pasture, probiotics, vaccines and wearables. Some of the tools also show potential for productivity benefits on farm, it says.

ArkeaBio: Vaccine Trials in New Zealand

The latest funding is AgriZeroNZ’s third investment in Boston-based ArkeaBio and its largest so far, bringing its total commitment to NZ$33.8 million.

The money is supporting trials in lactating dairy cows in New Zealand to generate the data needed for a regulatory submission. ArkeaBio is targeting a New Zealand launch in 2028.

The announcement says ArkeaBio is the first company to achieve proof of concept for a methane vaccine, with trials at Texas A&M University showing it can reduce methane emissions from cattle.

The recombinant protein vaccine works by prompting a cow’s immune system to produce natural antibodies that target methane-producing microbes in the rumen, part of the animal’s stomach. The company says this reduces the amount of methane released without disrupting the cow’s digestion.

ArkeaBio chief executive Frank Wooten says the new funding should take the company through to commercial launch.

“For our first vaccine, we’re targeting a methane reduction of around 15% that lasts for at least three months,” he says.

“We see a clear pathway to deliver greater methane reductions and longer-lasting impact, with the ultimate goal being a vaccine that lasts for 12 months.”

The company is also exploring whether the vaccine could be combined with other vaccines already commonly used on farm, which it says would make it easier for farmers to use.

BioLumic: UV Light and Higher-Performing Pasture

AgriZeroNZ is doubling its investment in Palmerston North-based BioLumic, adding NZ$5.1 million to bring its total to NZ$10.6 million.

BioLumic uses precise UV light “recipes” to activate desirable traits in seeds, with no chemistry and no genetic modification. Its ryegrass programme is focused on increasing lipid concentration, building on a well-established link between higher-fat diets and lower methane emissions from livestock.

The company says it has already shown proof of concept by raising the lipid concentration of ryegrass. It is now targeting concentrations that modelling indicates could reduce methane emissions from grazing livestock by about 12.5 per cent.

The new funding will support further field trials of the ryegrass with major seed companies in New Zealand, Australia and Europe.

BioLumic chief science officer Jason Wargent says: “The real opportunity is helping farmers reduce methane emissions without changing the way they farm.

“We’re also developing productivity traits that lift metabolisable energy and dry matter into the same seed, so farmers can achieve both emissions reductions and productivity gains.”

BioLumic’s xTraits light-activation platform was recently named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026, according to the announcement.

What Comes Next

Both technologies remain in development. ArkeaBio’s vaccine still needs a regulatory submission, and BioLumic’s ryegrass is moving into further field trials. The methane reductions quoted are targets or modelling results, not outcomes measured on commercial farms.

McNee says AgriZeroNZ’s recent funding boost lets it make follow-on investments of this kind, supporting technologies through to commercialisation.

“These investments reflect the momentum we’re seeing, and we’re proud to support companies like BioLumic and ArkeaBio as they move towards bringing their solutions to market,” he says.

“Ultimately, it’s about giving New Zealand farmers choice. We want them to have a range of effective tools, so they can choose what works for their farm and keep earning the premium they deserve for their grass-fed milk and meat.”

President Colin Hurst says there is “really clear alignment” between ACT’s announcement and Federated Farmers’ priorities.

He points to support for new permitted activity standards, guaranteed flexible land use and protection of farmers’ private property rights.

Hurst says cutting red tape and unnecessary costs is the “recipe for success” for a growing economy, more jobs and higher wages.

He says Federated Farmers has a vision to double farm productivity, cut costs and improve the environment, and that ACT shares it.

“We’re never going to be able to tax or regulate our way to a higher standard of living as a country, but with the right settings, we might just be able to farm our way there,” Hurst says.

He says many ACT policies build on the Government’s resource management reforms while addressing farmers’ concerns.

Wilding Pines

Federated Farmers conservation spokesperson Richard Dawkins is also backing ACT’s policy to eradicate wilding pines and control pests across public and private land.

"We’re particularly pleased to see ACT making a firm commitment for long-term funding to help eradicate wilding pines from our unique natural landscapes," Dawkins says.

"This has been a strong advocacy focus for Federated Farmers over the last year, with the Government announcing $110 million to help urgently address the issue.

"Unfortunately, that funding was only for a four-year work programme - but wilding pines are a much longer-term challenge that requires certainty of funding."

Pest Control and DOC

Federated Farmers is also welcoming somewhat of a ‘course correction’ in ACT’s pest control policy after firm criticism from farmers in recent months.

"We were highly critical of the ACT Party policy released in July, which would have given too much power to the Game Animal Council.

"We’re pleased to see ACT has now made a commitment that DOC will be directed to coordinate pest control across public and private land, reducing the burden on individual farmers.

"We firmly believe DOC and MPI are best placed to coordinate pest control, and we look forward to continuing to work with them and the new government on pest management in the new year."

At the Rural Contractors conference in Christchurch held in June, members supported a campaign to secure a rapid change to the regulations governing vehicle dimensions and mass (VDAMs).

At the time, Rural Contractors NZ CEO, Andrew Olsen noted that some of his members had faced fines of $10,000 and more for agricultural vehicles being deemed too heavy for roads under rules more than a decade old. “Our members’ tractors and other machines have got heavier but the transport regulations are such that they can be overweight before they leave the showroom, let alone with implements on board,” said Olsen.

The RCNZ Association estimates that around 750 to 800 agricultural machines are currently affected by the out-of-date rules. Olsen explained, “They are not unsafe or damaging the roads. In Australia, the US and the EU, these machines operate lawfully but the Government has dragged its heels in finding a solution.”

The new rules propose to exempt rigid agricultural vehicles (excluding vehicles towing goods) from gross weight and mass limits, subject to specific restrictions to protect critical infrastructure such as bridges.

Associate Transport Minister James Meager says consultation has begun on 28 proposals to change heavy vehicle rules, including agricultural vehicles, to generally reduce compliance costs and improve productivity.

Rural Contractor NZ has been campaigning for changes, based on the premise that the current VDAM rules haven’t kept pace with the increasing size of machinery and amid a rigid permitting system.

 OIsen says the Land Transport Rules Reform consultation document details how in the five years to June 2026, the NZTA processed almost 700 overweight permit applications for agricultural vehicles, of which, only 46 were declined because of the risk of exceeding structure limits such as maximum bridge weights.

“This many approvals translates to an unnecessary rubber-stamping process which can be safely removed providing productivity improvements for the vast majority of agricultural contractors,” says Olsen. “The exemption, now being proposed by NZTA, should further reduce the number of agricultural vehicles that require a permit and further reduce again when rules on vehicle dimension and mass are further reviewed in a later phase of consultation.”

The consultation document suggests that exemptions for agricultural vehicles be subject to route or structure restrictions as set by road controlling authorities, mostly NZTA or councils.

“Our members will be thankful the Government has responded on this issue even if it’s taken longer than is ideal,” says Olsen. “We are now asking that the changes be implemented in time for the next season starting in spring 2027 and the authorities enforcing the current out of date regulations, don’t hammer our members in the interim.”

Andrew Hoggard, ACT

The biggest things we can do for arable growers are the same things that help every farmer: lower costs and fewer rules. Crop farmers are dealing with pests and diseases that are building resistance, so getting quicker access to proven products matters more to them than almost anyone. We are 100% committed to getting the HSNO Amendments passed and ensuring that officials follow through with the flexibility they now must get new chemistry approved quicker.

Arable growers make long-term calls on land, machinery and staff, often borrowing big to do it. They need lower interest rates and a government that lives within its means. ACT will make the savings in Wellington that balance the books faster than any other party, with no new taxes. That’s how you get inflation and interest rates down, and that’s real support for a grower staring at a seasonal overdraft.

Jo Luxton, Labour

When I talk to arable farmers, the biggest concerns are really practical challenges.

barriers to research and innovation, increasingly challenging climate conditions, stretched freight between the South Island and North Island, high energy costs at post-harvest, an uneven playing field with imported grain, and unpredictable export markets.

We need to ensure arable farmers have the same opportunity to succeed, invest and grow as any other part of our primary industry. That means addressing the challenges that are within our control so that we can create the conditions growers need to thrive.

Daniel Eb, Opportunity

We are generally reluctant to offer industry specific subsidies or other support - preferring instead to focus on broad tax and economic policies that can uplift a range of sectors. We believe the best way to support the rebound of the arable sector is to address the long-term, structural challenges it, and other sectors, face.

Energy security and affordability is one such challenge - we would significantly scale renewable generation, reform the energy sector and electrify our economy as part of our Abundant Energy policy. While it may be some time before electric alternatives are available for arable farmers, reduced national dependence on fossil fuels (like diesel) should soften price and supply security issues. Additionally, we would expect arable to be a key beneficiary of a more efficient infrastructure delivery pipeline - as proposed in our Intergenerational Infrastructure policy - enabling South Island growers to better compete in North Island markets due to reduced national freight costs.

Finally, our Breakthrough Economy policy would support a wide range of on-farm technology improvements for growers, and set the conditions for more home-grown, agricultural innovation and industrial development for critical inputs - like the recently opened Te Ahi Clean Energy Park in Taupō, which uses geothermal energy to produce a more efficient form of urea fertiliser.

Todd McClay, National

Dairy, red meat and horticulture are having strong years. Arable growers are not. Margins are tight, returns are soft and costs keep climbing.

That matters to all of us. Arable employs around 7500 people and earns about $2.1 billion a year. It supplies the grain, seed and feed that livestock farmers, food makers and exporters rely on.

We won’t leave growers to carry this on their own. We’re setting up an Arable Sector Forum to bring growers, processors, merchants, researchers and government around one table. Its job is to find what’s holding the sector back and fix it, with a clear focus on farm-gate returns.

We’ve already made a start in three areas.

Land. We changed the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land to give more flexibility on LUC 3 land, while still protecting our best soils.

Water. A dry year can make or break an arable business. We’ve brought in practical rules for on-farm water storage and dam safety and made it simpler to consent water storage and distribution.

Costs. Investment Boost lets you deduct 20% of the cost of new assets upfront.

My message to arable growers is simple.

We see the pressure you’re under, and we’ll work with you on practical changes that lift your returns. More paperwork won’t be part of it.

Mark Patterson, NZ First

New Zealand First is cognisant of the need to keep a breadth in our primary production. The arable sector is foundational to this as being not only a provider of high-quality domestic food but in supplying animal feeds, grazing support and seed production, underpinning our dairy, meat and vegetable growing sectors.

Maintaining critical mass in the arable sector is strategically essential for New Zealand, for both domestic food security and wider economic resilience and needs to be treated as such.

New Zealand First supports a dedicated Minister or Associate Minister of Agriculture focused on the arable sector. We would prioritise this sector in regard to research and development support from the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI).

We believe a template for resurrecting the sector has been established with the work that has been done in this term of government rebuilding the wool sector. We are encouraged that the arable sector has now come together to form a strategic plan and New Zealand First stand ready to support. The lessons from the wool sector would suggest the answers sit in coordinating cohesive industry leadership, supply chain transparency, investing in innovation and identifying emerging opportunities to add value. Not merely growing an extra tonne per hectare.

We would also encourage other sectors to recognise the critical nature of the arable sector to the wider primary sector ecosystem and reduce their reliance on imported feeds.

Rural Waste Sorted NZ aims to make waste management easier to understand and easier to put into practice, without suggesting farmers need to change everything at once.

“A Spirit of Kaitiakitanga”

Dairy farmer and Rural Waste Sorted NZ ambassador Trish Rankin said farmers already have a strong motivation to look after the land for future generations.

“There’s that real spirit of kaitiakitanga, so one thing I’ve noticed about farmers is that they want to ensure they get the right waste back into the right place,” Rankin said.

“My vision for rural waste is that there is a solution for every waste stream that comes on farm, that it doesn’t cost farmers anything to do the right thing. If I buy something, there’s a way that I can manage the packaging that it comes in.”

Seven-Part Video Series

A key feature of the website is a seven-part video series featuring farmers and industry representatives. They talk about the waste challenges they face and the changes they have made on their farms.

The series covers:

• Why better waste management matters
• Common farm waste streams
• Working with staff and suppliers
• Practical ways to get started
• Finding the right waste pathways
• Where to go for more support

The website also brings together information about existing recycling and waste-management programmes and resources, helping farmers find options relevant to their farm and region.

Start with What's Practical

Rather than promoting one-size-fits-all solutions, Rural Waste Sorted NZ encourages farmers to start with what is practical for their own farm.

Rural Waste Sorted NZ spokesperson and Otago regional waste officer Anna Robinson said the website is designed to be useful whether farmers are just starting to think about waste or already taking action.

“Farmers are already making positive changes to the way they manage waste on farm,” Robinson said. “The video series will appeal to those looking for a way to get started but who haven’t yet found the ‘how’ or the ‘what’. It has great information and useful resources for farmers nationwide who are already working to minimise and manage waste.”

Meat Industry Association (MIA) independent chair Nathan Guy said the agreement gives exporters more options in a challenging global trading environment.

“Red meat exporters are operating in the face of rising protectionism and continued volatility. Broader market access like this helps diversify risk, strengthen resilience and provide greater stability for exporters,” Guy said.

“India is a market with significant long-term potential. Removing the tariff on sheepmeat from day one improves our competitive position and gives exporters a practical basis for building relationships and demand over time.”

Long-Term Promise

Beef + Lamb New Zealand chair Kate Acland said the agreement strengthens New Zealand’s position in a market with long-term promise.

“India is the world’s most populous country and is expected to become the third-largest economy in the coming years. As incomes rise, demand for high-quality natural protein from New Zealand is also expected to grow,” Acland said.

“The removal of the 33 per cent tariff on New Zealand sheepmeat is an important first step. It gives the red meat sector a foundation from which to develop the market as consumer demand grows.”

“Over time, the FTA should support greater market diversification, strengthen the red meat sector’s resilience and create more export opportunities for New Zealand,” she said.

New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) President Dean Witehira said the agreement is a major opportunity for forest growers, wood processors and exporters to expand into one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

“Wood and wood products are already New Zealand’s largest goods export to India, with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) data showing exports have tripled over the past three years to $193 million,” Witehira said.

“With tariffs on almost all remaining forestry trade set to disappear over the next seven years, there’s considerable potential to build on this.”

“We already have a strong trading relationship with India, and removing tariffs on more than 95 per cent of our existing exports puts our sector in a much better position to compete and grow.”

A Timely Opening for the Sector

Witehira said the agreement comes at an important time for forestry, with growers and processors looking to strengthen existing markets and find new opportunities.

“India’s scale and growing demand for wood products make it an attractive market for our sector. Better access gives New Zealand exporters a chance to win new customers, grow existing relationships and support further investment in forestry and wood processing at home,” he said.

Regional Jobs and Economic Contribution

“Recent NZIER research found forestry contributes $5.4 billion to New Zealand’s GDP, with a particularly important role in regional economies,” Witehira said.

“Growing our exports means more opportunities for harvesting crews, contractors, transport operators, mills and manufacturers, along with the local businesses that depend on them.

“A stronger export sector is good news for the regions where forestry is a major employer and economic contributor.”

Collaboration Beyond Tariffs

Witehira said the agreement builds on longstanding relationships between the two countries, including opportunities for collaboration on forestry research, education and industry practices.

“Our visits to India and engagement on the ground have helped lay the foundations for further collaboration, and today’s milestone gives us the opportunity to build on that work.

“We congratulate everyone involved in getting this agreement across the line. The focus now is on making the most of this improved access and turning it into more trade, investment and jobs for New Zealand,” he said.

Federated Farmers education spokesperson Greg Anderson said the organisation has written to Minister of Education Erica Stanford, urging her to reconsider the proposed change.

“We’re 100% behind the school and we’ve written a letter to Minister of Education Erica Stanford, urging her to reconsider the proposed change,” Anderson said.

“Agriculture is absolutely vital to New Zealand’s economy and we should be doing all we can to get our young people into the sector, which offers exciting opportunities.”

The Proposal

Under changes to the secondary school curriculum, the Government plans a new industry-led Food and Fibre Systems subject, available to Year 12 and 13 students from 2029.

It is proposing that agribusiness, agriculture and horticulture science be dropped as standalone Year 11 subjects, with a small component of those topics incorporated into general science instead.

Federated Farmers is backing opposition to the move from the Horticulture and Agriculture Teachers Association (HATA) and Feilding High School, which has a history of teaching agriculture as a pathway into vet training, farm business degrees and research.

Why Year 11 Matters, According to Federated Farmers

“Year 11 is when students begin choosing subjects that shape their study and future career pathways,” Anderson said.

“Providing a dedicated agricultural science subject gives the sector visibility at exactly that point. Without it, fewer students are likely to consider agricultural careers, and the sector will feel the effect in the years ahead.”

He said agricultural science keeps rural children interested in school and exposes children without a rural background to career opportunities in agriculture.

“Year 11 Agricultural and Horticultural Science has long played a valuable role in sparking student interest and preparing students for further study at Massey, Lincoln and other tertiary providers,” Anderson said.

Federated Farmers argues a general science course cannot offer the depth, context or industry connection of a specific subject.

Earlier Years and Workforce

Anderson said the position matches the Backing Kiwi Farmers election platform, which urged more agriculture and horticulture content in the Years 0-10 science curriculum.

“Those early years are an opportunity to engage young people in these topics and help all Kiwi kids understand where their food comes from,” he said.

“Farmers tell us regularly that attracting and retaining skilled and motivated people is one of their biggest challenges. Building the foundations to address that starts in our schools.”

“We’re backing farmers, teachers, Feilding High and other schools in their push to change the Government’s mind on this,” Anderson said.

World demand for protein, high-quality food products and the impact of new trade agreements plus a soft NZ dollar are the reasons why these exports reached $65.2 billion to the end of June 2026 – a billion more than MPI had predicted in its June forecast and also well ahead of the $63.8 billion forecast for the 2026/27 year.

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay told Rural News that hitting $65.2 billion is an exceptional outcome.

Meat and wool are the biggest contributors to the latest increase reaching $14.8 billion as opposed to the $14.1 earlier predicted.

McClay says in the year to 30 June, food and fibre exports to the European Union were up 20% to $5.3 billion. Exports to the United Arab Emirates rose 11% to $1.1 billion.

“Our trade deals are delivering for Kiwi exporters as we work towards doubling the value of NZ’s exports by 2034,” he says.

McClay says NZ is becoming much better at marketing premium rather than commodity products and this movement up the value chain is being reflected in the latest figures.

“People buy from us because of our provenance. They like the story we tell including the fact that our cows are out on the grass and sheep up on the hills. But we must protect that point of difference from other countries who may try to make similar claims,” he says

McClay says NZ is meeting the needs of niche consumers such as those in China where there are five million younger people who are very wealthy but don’t have kitchens in their homes and want ready-to-cook products that NZ companies are producing.

Dooley, Federated Farmers’ Southland Meat and Wool chair, said the “diabolical” conditions were the worst he had seen since a storm that brought a week of snow in 2010.

On October 1 Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson announced support for weather-hit southern farmers, classifying the extreme wet and cold conditions across Southland and the Clutha District as a “medium-scale adverse event”.

Speaking to Rural News last week, Dooley said it was “typical Mother Nature” that the bad weather stopped the day they finished lambing, and the sun had been out since.

“Once we didn’t need her to play ball anymore, she’s now cooperating.

“But the effect is still there and will still be there. We’re just not sure if the wet-dry numbers [ewes that were pregnant but now have no lambs] are less than we expected.

“Normally we would expect to get 70 to 100 wet-drys and we’ll be at 200 this year.”

On top of that there would also be a lot of ewes with just one lamb where there should be two, since most of the flock scanned for twins.

Dooley regularly posts update videos on his “Deep South Sheep and Beef” Youtube channel.

One recent video, uploaded at the end of September, shows him struggling on sodden pasture to move mobs of pregnant or recently-lambed ewes.

He explains that many lambs were having to be moved indoors and fed on milk replacer.

“50% of the potential margin on those has gone on milk powder but we’re not going to leave them there to die.

“It’s just a matter of doing what we can to try and get some better outcomes.”

Dooley currently runs 2350 ewes and rears 60 calves each year, on 250 ha.

“We’re starting to get a better picture of how things will be,” he said.

“Financially we will still be okay. But basically for a farm our size the bad weather has probably cost us $100,000 to $120,000 of lost potential income.”

Beef+Lamb NZ general manager, insights & strategic planning, Julian Ashby, said it was still too early to assess the overall impact of the weather event on lambing performance.

“Initial reports from farmers undertaking tailing are mixed, with some reporting results better than expected and others broadly in line with expectations. Despite the difficult conditions, there are encouraging signs."

Ashby said there were some ongoing concerns around ewe body condition following a prolonged period of limited feed availability and high lactation demand, as well as potential animal health impacts on lambs born in cold, wet conditions.

Feed management and rebuilding ewe condition would be important priorities for farmers over the coming months.

Ashby said it had been a challenging spring, with exceptionally wet and cold conditions throughout September coinciding with a critical period for lambing. Some areas experienced their highest September rainfall in decades, leaving ground conditions saturated and pasture covers declining on many farms.

“The good news is that conditions have improved in October, with pasture growth now accelerating rapidly. This is providing some welcome relief, particularly for later-lambing flocks in the hill and high country."

B+LNZ chair Kate Acland said continuing resource management reform must remain a priority.

“Resource management reform is the single biggest policy area we need to get right because it shapes nearly all regulation affecting farmers,” Acland said.

“Replacing the RMA is only part of the job. It is critical the ongoing reforms support the sector to grow.”

She said B+LNZ supported the proposed National Standards as enabling rules that provide streamlined, practical and outcomes-based pathways as an alternative to consents.

On freshwater, Acland said the regime needed to be informed by science and be practical, workable and achievable on the ground. It also needed to recognise natural variation between catchments and deliver positive environmental outcomes.

“A workable national approach to farm plans and simpler rules for well-built, low-risk on-farm water storage will support productivity and resilience with less unnecessary red tape,” she said.

Emissions Pricing

B+LNZ also welcomed National’s recommitment to not pricing agricultural emissions.

“This is also a Labour Party policy and is in line with what we are seeing globally. We call on all political parties to take this approach,” Acland said.

Carbon Farming

Acland said the Government needed to further tighten the rules on carbon farming.

“The changes are welcome, but they do not go far enough to protect food production and stop the wholesale conversion of sheep and beef farmland into carbon farms,” she said.

The website is designed to support customers from first look to final installation, with online browsing, samples delivered to the door, an indicative ‘supply-and-install’ quote, and a free in-home installer visit to confirm measurements.

A room visualiser also enables customers to see how different colours and styles will look in their own space before purchasing.

“Online retail has expanded worldwide and is working well for our customers around the globe,” McWhirter told Rural News.

He says that with 90% of New Zealand wool sold overseas, Wools of New Zealand needs a global focus.

“Establishing an online service allows us to scale the business in line with the way consumers increasingly shop.”

McWhirter says that Laneve is competitively priced against synthetic flooring, depending on the product.

“Customers can choose options at different price points to suit their needs and budget. Importantly, they can browse a broad range of wool carpets and make an informed choice,” he says.

He says that Laneve makes purchasing carpet simpler and more transparent.

“In a bricks-and-mortar store, customers can sometimes leave without a clear understanding of the total cost,” McWhirter says. “With Laneve, customers can visit the website, get answers to their questions, explore the range and see indicative fully fitted prices, without feeling under any obligation.”

He says Wools of New Zealand is still committed to its existing retailer network, ranging from retailers that order and sell Wools of New Zealand carpets to major retailers offering an exclusive branded range.

“To ensure clear separation, Laneve has its own product range, which is distinct from the other brands owned and sold through the retailers by Wools of New Zealand.”

McWhirter adds that the value flowing back to farmers needs to be considered in the context of the wider wool industry.

“Wool has struggled to achieve satisfactory prices over the past decade, as part of a decline dating back about 40 years,” he says.

McWhirter says that the issue was that wool supply exceeded demand, driving prices down.

From today, 57% of New Zealand’s current exports to India become tariff free, rising to 82% as the agreement is implemented. Tariffs will also be reduced on a further 13% of current exports.

More than 95% of forestry exports will enter India tariff free from day one, along with sheep meat, wool and coal. The agreement also includes commitments to improve customs processes and reduce barriers to trade.

Two-way trade between the two countries was worth NZ$3.95 billion in the year ended December 2025. Last year, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi set an aspirational goal of growing trade to NZ$7 billion by 2030.

India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) Chair Bharat Chawla described the agreement as an important milestone that begins the next phase of the relationship.

“The agreement improves the conditions for businesses to operate but the real value will come from the commercial partnerships, investment and trade that grow from here,” Chawla said.

INZBC Chief Executive Sunil Kaushal said the agreement creates opportunities across sectors, but that success would depend on businesses acting on them.

“Market access is important but long-term success in India comes from understanding the market, building trusted relationships and committing for the long term,” Kaushal said.

He said India was one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, and that New Zealand strengths in food and beverage, technology, education, advanced manufacturing and professional services were highly valued there.

Kaushal said the council’s focus would now move from making the case for an agreement to helping businesses turn it into commercial outcomes.

“We have spent many years building momentum in the relationship. The agreement gives businesses access and the next stage is about implementation,” he said.

According to Professor of Farm and AgriBusiness Management Nicola Shadbolt, the funds for the award have finally run out, but she’s hopeful that some individual or organisation may decide to put up an equivalent award next year.

The award recognises an outstanding farm management student who has demonstrated a high level of personal integrity, intellectual curiosity, vision and social conscious.

In addition to winning the William Gearish Memorial prize, Pau’u was also placed second for excellence in agriculture for third year students.

Pau’u admitted to being overwhelmed at winning the award which had its humble beginnings in her small Tongan village.

When her grandfather and father died and her uncles left for overseas, she took on the task of running a small chicken farm to help the family.

“I started hatching chickens during Covid and then people in my community said I knew everything and they asked to me to give advice on how to look after their chickens,” she told Rural News.

“Finally, one of my mentors suggested I should apply for a scholarship at Massey University. I did this and wrote about my experience with chickens and I won the scholarship,” she says.

Pau’u says she’s very grateful to all the people who enabled her to study at Massey.

As for the future she plans to go back to her village and continue helping the local people, including how to better market some of their crops. But tucked away in mind for the future is the idea of bringing sheep to her community.

“I have grown very interested in sheep and I have been looking into some sheep breeds that might do well in the islands. This would cost a lot of money, but I am going to save up and one day buy some sheep. That is the ultimate goal, but the other thing is help my little community with their horticulture crops,” she says.

There was a buzz of excitement and positivity as more than 250 students from the school of Agriculture and the Environment at Massey University as they gathered for their annual prizegiving in Palmerston North recently.

As well as top students and Massey academics, there many dignitaries including the Minister for Agriculture Todd McClay, along with ministers Mike Butterick and Andrew Hoggard, and the Mayor of Palmerston North, Grant Smith.

The keynote speaker for the evening was former Massey graduate Jen Corkran who’s now the senior animal protein analyst for Rabobank. Her key messages were - follow your curiosity, be open to change and that relationships matter.

For new Massey vice chancellor Professor Pierre Venter says it was the first time he’d presided over this occasion. He says it was exciting to celebrate the achievements of the students who have come together to study at Massey.

Two years ago, morale among New Zealand's small group of dairy goat farmers was low with several challenging seasons forcing some out of business.

However, a new board and leadership team installed two years ago at Dairy Goat Co-operative (DGC) are turning things around.

At its annual general meeting last week, DGC reported impressive results and is focusing on growing milk supply to meet significant unmet demand, both from existing shareholder suppliers and potential suppliers.

For the year ending May 31, 2026, revenue was $178.5 million, up from $170.5m the previous year. Gross profit rose to $41.6m, up from $36m the previous year.

Chief executive Alastair Hulbert told Rural News that while some farmers are still doing it tough, there’s “a degree of optimism back in the industry”.

Hulbert says farmers are again starting to invest in the milk shed and breeding more kids to boost herd numbers.

There’s also good news for DGC farmer shareholders. A record payout of $14.56/kg goat milk solids (GMS) was distributed last season, up from $11.68/kgGMS the previous season.

For the current season, DGC has underwritten a rate of $15/kgGMS across 100% of share entitlement milk. The guaranteed milk price is paid upfront.

Hulbert says this gives suppliers greater income certainty as the co-operative works to increase milk supply.

The focus is on getting current farmer suppliers to fully utilise their barns and miking sheds while breeding more kids for milking next season.

However, Hulbert says they will still need milk from new suppliers to meet demand.

DGC needs more milk to meet a growing global demand for goat milk formula and ingredients.

He says the co-op’s ‘Formula for Success’ strategy has key priorities: a staged re-entry into China, commercialising its GIraFFE research programme, supporting milk supply growth and assessing opportunities in the US.

DGC is also pursuing contract manufacturing to improve use of its existing plant in Hamilton.

Hulbert believes DGC is ready for its next stage of growth.

“There is still work to do to restore consistent profitability, but higher farmer returns, a much stronger balance sheet and demand for products provide a solid base for the next phase of growth.”

DGC’s balance sheet has also improved. Debt has been slashed from $39m to $4.6m, supported by operating cash flow and the sale of whole milk powder inventory, reducing financial risk and providing a stronger base for growth.

However, the co-operative remained loss-making after tax, recording a $1.2 million loss, but generated strong operating cash flow and materially strengthened its balance sheet.

Milk supply this season is forecast to be 3.9 million kgGMS.

Hulbert says that year-to-date supply of 1.3mkgGMS is slightly ahead of budget, with September collections reaching 424 metric tonnes of GMS against a budget of 406 metric tonnes.

Hooper replaces Paul Bucknell, who has retired from the board after 10 years. Bucknell was appointed chair in 2025.

“It’s a privilege to be appointed chair of NZPork, which has a proud history of supporting pig farmers and advocating for born and raised New Zealand pork,” Hooper said.

Hooper joined the NZPork board earlier this year as an independent director.

He is a Lepperton dairy farmer and former Taranaki Federated Farmers president, was elected to Federated Farmers’ national board in 2022, and is a former chair of LIC’s Shareholder Reference Group.

Outlook for the Sector

Hooper said New Zealand’s pork sector has a strong environmental record and upholds some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world.

“With greater certainty around welfare rules, pig farmers can now invest confidently in their farms, adopt new systems and continue building a resilient future for the sector,” he said.

“A thriving industry will enable pig farmers to continue providing nutritious, high-quality, New Zealand born and raised pork produced to high welfare standards.”

He also said pork is an affordable, versatile protein for families during the cost of living crisis. “Farmers are proud to play their part in producing food that is nutritious, accessible and trusted.”

Tribute to Paul Bucknell

Hooper paid tribute to Bucknell’s leadership.

“Paul has dedicated his time, knowledge and experience to representing New Zealand’s pig farming industry and supporting the work of NZPork,” he said. “On behalf of the Board and the NZPork team, we thank Paul for his service and wish him all the very best.”

Deputy Chair and New Director

Canterbury pig farmer Jason Palmer has been re-elected deputy chair of NZPork.

Michael Brooks has been appointed as a farmer-elected director and has started his term. Brooks was Executive Director of the Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand (PIANZ) for more than 20 years. He also worked with the Egg Producers Federation and the New Zealand Feed Manufacturers Association, and retired from PIANZ in 2025.

“I’m pleased to be representing the reputational and commercial interests of pig farmers and the wider pork industry,” Brooks said.

“My experience in the poultry industry has given me an understanding of many of the challenges we share, including animal welfare and biosecurity. I hope to bring a fresh perspective and draw on that experience to contribute positively to the pork industry.”

Federated Farmers president Colin Hurst says making everyday farming activities permitted activities “will unlock farming’s potential”.

He says it will cut unnecessary cost and complexity, give farmers the confidence to get on with farming and help grow the export-led economy.

"Top of Our Priority List"

Hurst says the policy sat at the top of the federation’s priority list for the incoming Government.

“We think it has the most potential to help transform our primary sector,” he says.

Federated Farmers released Backing Kiwi Farmers, a five-point plan to double farm productivity, cut costs and improve the environment, in June. It asked for 10 national standards.

“National have gone even further, announcing 19,” Hurst says.

What Is A Permitted Activity Standard?

Hurst says permitted activity standards are not a licence to do whatever a farmer wants. They set a clear benchmark farmers must meet to protect the environment.

“If those standards are met and you’re farming within the guardrails, you can just get on with the job,” he says. That means avoiding the cost, complexity, uncertainty and delays of resource consenting.

The Full List

Federated Farmers’ proposed standards were:

• Farm plans
• Vegetable growing
• On-farm water storage
• Gravel extraction
• Drain maintenance
• Effluent management
• Fertiliser application
• Farm quarries
• Wetland restoration
• Small and medium-scale solar

National has added:

• Micro-hydro
• Irrigation
• Energy storage
• Small-scale seasonal worker accommodation
• Farm tracks
• Agricultural aviation
• Culverts
• Offal holes
• Managing contaminated soils

The 19 standards build on work already done to reform the resource management system.

Exports and the Cost of Living

Hurst says the plan will help pave the way for farmers to double the value of agricultural exports to $106 billion by 2034.

He says it will also help families struggling with the cost of living. Barriers to farm production and the costs they create ultimately flow through to supermarket prices, he says, especially for fresh fruit and vegetables.

“This isn’t just a plan for farming; it’s a plan to grow the economy, grow our exports, and help New Zealanders get ahead,” Hurst says.

"Get Out of the Way"

Hurst says Federated Farmers has told the Government that if it wants to grow the economy, it should “get out of the way and let farmers get on with it”. He says farmers want to innovate, invest and increase production to drive export growth and lift living standards.

“With these standards replacing the need for consents, farmers can spend more time and money on growing their businesses and less on unnecessary bureaucracy,” he says.

The farms span New Zealand’s hill country and a wide range of farming systems and conditions:

• Mahipatua, Pouto Tōpū A Trust, Northland
• Onuku, Onuku Maori Lands Trust, Bay of Plenty
• Rotomate, King Country
• Te Hue, Waipuna Farms, Whanganui
• Panekiri, a Pāmu farm, Hawke’s Bay
• Longrange, Horizon Farming, Hawke’s Bay
• Muller Station, Marlborough
• Mt White Station, Canterbury
• Lochindorb, Otago

A selection panel chose them from a national long list using common criteria. Their role is to use the technology in normal commercial conditions, test practical farm system changes and share what they learn with farmers and the wider sector.

From Set-Up to On-Farm Delivery

The confirmation marks LIFT’s move from establishment to delivery. Farms have been onboarded, virtual fencing deployment is under way, and farm teams and consultants are working out where the technology may add value in each system.

The programme has begun collaring and training cattle and building production, financial and environmental baselines, including FARMAX and Overseer models for each farm.

Pāmu Chief Executive Mark Leslie says the value will come from the range of farms and their willingness to openly test and share what does and does not work.

“Virtual fencing creates new opportunities to improve profitability and environmental performance, but the technology on its own is not the answer,” he says. “What matters is how farmers use it to change grazing, stock management and the wider farm system.”

Participating farmers have started meeting as a national group, and conversations have already widened to pasture management, labour, animal performance, water infrastructure and environmental benefits.

Programme Lead Charlie McCaig says this is an important early sign.

Farm Spotlight: Lochindorb, Otago

Lochindorb is a third-generation family business run by Lyndon and Jade McNab. The 2,500-hectare property includes flats and hard hill country and carries sheep and beef. The farm is exploring whether more flexible grazing control can improve pasture quality and feed grown in harder-to-reach areas while protecting sensitive parts of the property. It is also interested in creep grazing, better youngstock growth and less time moving and managing cattle.

“The opportunity is not simply replacing a fence,” Lyndon McNab says. “It is being able to manage grazing more deliberately, make better use of the feed we grow and protect areas that matter to us.”

How the Programme Works

LIFT was launched in June as a five-year, $8.5 million programme led by Pāmu. The Ministry for Primary Industries is investing $3.5 million through the Primary Sector Growth Fund, as part of its Land Use Flexibility funding package, alongside partner support.

Each farm works with an independent consultant to update models, test system changes and track performance. The programme will assess production, financial, environmental and practical outcomes. It will also run field days and publish farmer stories, practical guidance and annual evidence reports. Farms stay commercial businesses and keep control of their decisions.

“We are not setting out to prove that one system will work everywhere,” McCaig says. “That means sharing the difficult lessons as well as the positive ones.”

Consultation opened today and closes on 9 December 2026.

NAWAC has reviewed the existing Code and is proposing new minimum standards and recommendations for best practice.

NAWAC chair Dr Matthew Stone says the draft changes aim to improve the welfare of cattle and horses used in rodeos across New Zealand.

What Is Being Proposed?

Extensive updates are being recommended to minimum standards for:

• steer wrestling
• roping and tying
• selecting and handling animals
• facilities and equipment
• stockmanship

New minimum standards are proposed for: 

• breakaway roping
• training of rodeo animals, and animals used to train rodeo participants
• contingency planning

The Main Proposed Change

The main proposed change is that cattle used in rope and tie and steer wrestling events must stay standing after being brought to a stop, instead of ending up on the ground.

NAWAC says the way these events are practised increases the risk of injury and distress to cattle and could breach the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

Stone says the draft standards would significantly change how the events are carried out, and that, if adopted, organisers might choose to withdraw some events from rodeos.

NAWAC is also recommending that the definition of a rodeo be changed to include events closed to the public. Those jackpot events would also require a vet in attendance.

Why Consultation Matters

Stone says public consultation is important to help shape how the events can be modified to meet the purposes of the Act. NAWAC’s approach has been to identify potential welfare risks in each event and describe what it believes needs to change.

NAWAC wants views from people directly involved in rodeos and others affected by the changes, and is also encouraging feedback from animal advocates and members of the public.

The rodeo season runs from this month through to March.

In the most recent season, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) animal welfare inspectors attended almost 30 rodeo events.

NAWAC is an independent body that advises the Government on animal welfare issues.

The Code of Welfare for Rodeos was last reviewed in 2014.

How to Have Your Say

Read the draft Code and find details on how to make a submission on MPI’s website: mpi.govt.nz/review-of-the-code-of-welfare-for-rodeo-animals. Submissions close on 9 December 2026.

The Whole Story Savory Hub is part of a New Zealand project supported by the Regenerative Fund for Nature and the Savory Institute. It aims to accelerate the move to regenerative grazing practices across sheep farms in Otago and Canterbury.

The project aims to support the regeneration of 50,000 hectares, using holistic management practices to improve soil health, biodiversity, water function and climate resilience.

Grazing livestock has long shaped New Zealand’s agricultural identity. But decades of pressure on landscapes have highlighted the need for farming systems that produce food and fibre while actively restoring the ecosystems they rely on.

Measuring Change with EOV

A key part of the project is Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV), a science-based monitoring framework that measures changes in ecosystem health, including soil function, biodiversity and landscape resilience.

Data gathered through EOV will help farmers understand the impact of their management decisions. It will also create a pathway for verified regenerative wool to reach premium global markets through Land to Market, a supply chain initiative linking ecological outcomes with commercial opportunities.

A Conversation About Land, Animals and Profit

Becks Smith, Hub Leader at The Whole Story, says the opportunity goes beyond environmental outcomes.

“Regenerating our high country through holistic management grazing principles creates a conversation between land health, animal health, farmer wellbeing, and long-term profitability,” she says. “By supporting farmers to look deeply at their ecosystems, measure improvement and connect with new markets, we can help create systems where healthy landscapes and thriving communities reinforce each other.”

About the Regenerative Fund for Nature

The Fund was established in 2021 by Conservation International and Kering, and has since grown to include additional fashion industry partners.

Conservation International manages the Fund, working with partners to select and oversee regenerative agriculture projects worldwide.

It supports practices that regenerate ecosystems, empower communities, strengthen economies and help address climate challenges.

How to Join

The project is seeking its final few South Island sheep farmers to join the current cohort. Register an expression of interest at thewholestory.co.nz/soiltowool or email becks@thewholestory.co.nz.

The Whole Story Savory Hub will continue working with farmers, industry partners and global networks to grow awareness, capability and market opportunities for regenerative agriculture in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Slips, trips and falls are among the leading causes of injury on New Zealand farms, with unsuitable or worn-out footwear a major contributing factor.

The #BootsOfShame Competition

To get farmers thinking about the state of their boots, Safer Farms is offering the chance to win a pair of boots worth $729.

Safer Farms Ambassador Lindy Nelson says farmers with old boots sagging around the ankles, or gumboots running low on tread, are encouraged to send in a photo.

“The right footwear is a simple but important line of defence,” she says. “We cannot prevent every injury, but we can make sure our footwear is up to the job.”

How to enter: photograph your battered boots and either share the photo on social media with #BootsofShame or upload it through the online entry form at saferfarms.org.nz.

Prizes: each week, entrants go into a draw for one of four $200 Prezzy Cards. All entries are in the running for a pair of Gronell Everest Tibet boots worth $729. The competition runs for five weeks from 12 October.

$50 Off Boots at PGG Wrightson

Safer Farms has partnered with PGG Wrightson to offer $50 off eligible boots or gumboots priced at $149 or more.

The offer is available in store and online until 31 October.

To get a discount code, head to saferfarms.org.nz/slips-trips.

One Farmer's Story

Canterbury arable farmer David Birkett was preparing to move irrigation equipment and wore standard gumboots because he was working with water. In a hurry, he stepped onto the tractor’s front wheel instead of using the steps, then jumped from the cab. He landed on uneven ground, rolled his ankle and chipped a bone.

The gumboots suited the irrigation work but did not give the ankle support needed on rough ground. He was off work for three weeks, followed by three weeks of rehabilitation with limited tasks. Finding someone with the right skills to cover his work was extremely difficult.

What the Numbers Show

• More than half of farm slip and trip incidents happen while people are interacting with livestock, most often in paddocks, sheds and yards.
• Running, rushing or taking shortcuts, time pressure, and poor plant or equipment design each feature in 60% of incidents.
• Surface contamination and inappropriate or worn footwear each contribute to 50%.
• Nearly half involve workers juggling another visual task, such as watching stock while moving, and 48% involve poor hazard assessment.
• Almost half of injured workers keep working, risking a slower recovery while pain and fatigue reduce agility and decision-making

Hazards can be hard to spot or easy to underestimate, from manure on shed floors and divots in paddocks to familiar steps and vehicle access points.

Choosing the Right Farm Footwear

Not all farm footwear is equal. The right pair depends on the task, terrain and weather. Check:

• Grip and tread: look for channels running in different directions, not just straight lines. Clean out mud regularly, as clogged tread reduces grip.
• Ankle support: essential on hill country, uneven paddocks and races.
• Toe protection: important wherever livestock or machinery could knock, stand on or crush a foot.
• Fit and comfort: well-fitting, supportive footwear can reduce fatigue on long days.
• Weather: cold can harden soles and reduce grip, and wet or smooth surfaces may be more slippery than they appear.

For a task-by-task guide, visit saferfarms.org.nz

A $3.07 million, one-year feasibility project will assess whether the Pouarua Water Storage Scheme and its piped distribution network stack up, and how they could be funded. The project is led by the Wi Pere Trust in partnership with Trust Tairāwhiti, the local economic development agency.

The Government is contributing $1.19 million, including the first investment from the Primary Sector Growth Fund in water storage.

The project will: 

• carry out design work
• pin down costs
• develop revenue and ownership models
• prepare the ground for consenting

Potential Benefits

Preliminary economic analysis estimates the scheme could add $246 million a year in farm and orchard gate returns and create 1,926 new full-time jobs. These are preliminary estimates, and the feasibility study will test whether the scheme is viable.

“Reliable water means farmers and growers can plan ahead,” McClay says. “On the flats that means higher value crops, better pasture and more options for farmers.”

He says the scheme would bring more growth to the region, new post-harvest jobs, and farms and orchards that continue to produce during dry summers.

New Zealand captures and uses only about two per cent of its annual rainfall, according to the release. Storing water when there is plenty and using it when it is dry takes pressure off rivers and aquifers, and is good for water quality, the Government says.

A Community-Led Project

McClay says the Wi Pere Trust is carrying on the legacy of Wi Pere, who spent his years pushing for regional development and better opportunities for his people. He also recognised East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick, who has been a strong supporter of the project and has pushed for the jobs and economic development irrigation could bring to the region.

“This Government wants farmers, growers and rural communities to have water they can rely on,” McClay says.

Farmers have become more frustrated with black spots and poor reception since the 3G network was switched off in March, the organisation said.

Federated Farmers telecommunications spokesperson Mark Hooper said last year’s Rural Connectivity Survey found service levels were already hit and miss.

This year’s survey, of nearly 650 farmers, painted a bleaker picture, he said. It was carried out in late August and early September.

Half of farms now have mobile coverage on less than half of the property, the survey found.

A third of farmers have a place on their farm that worked on 3G but no longer does, and for most the gaps are not confined to one part of the farm.

Emergency Access and Safety Concerns

Nearly two in three farmers said they cannot rely on reaching 111 from most of their farm, and 8% said connecting to emergency services was not possible anywhere on the property.

More than 40 farmers said there was nowhere on their property where they could reliably reach 111.

Hooper said patchy coverage creates obvious risks in an accident or emergency, especially for people working alone.

One farmer said they had failed a WorkSafe audit because poor coverage meant they could not check on staff every two hours.

Hooper noted that telcos have an agreement to redistribute a failed 111 call across whichever networks reach that spot, but said it cannot create coverage where none exists.

Financial Cost of the 3G Shutdown

One in seven farms had to replace equipment that relied on the 3G network, including irrigation and pivot controls, cow collars and other farm systems. Some spent many thousands of dollars, and the vast majority replaced gear that was still working, the survey found.

Two in three farmers paid for workarounds such as satellite broadband.

Only 15% of farmers regard satellite-to-mobile as an adequate substitute for a cell tower.

Providers Not Fixing Reported Problems

Of 126 farms that reported coverage and reliability problems, just two had the problem resolved.

Hooper said farmers reported that raising problems with providers often did not result in a fix, with some providers effectively denying there was an issue.

That’s very frustrating and indicates their concerns aren’t being taken seriously,” he said.

He said earlier assurances that most areas previously covered by 3G now have 4G and 5G had “proved hollow”.

Federated Farmers Meets Telcos

Hooper said Federated Farmers is holding urgent meetings with telcos to understand what scope exists within existing infrastructure or planned investment to improve the situation.

He said the organisation has some sympathy for the argument that heavy investment in “old technology”, such as new towers, may not be the best use of resources when satellite calling is on the way.

It is also interested in what fine-tuning of existing infrastructure might be possible now.

“At the very least, surely we can get more farmers hooked back up to the service standards they had with 3G,” he said.

Roads and Highways

Four in five farmers know a stretch of their regular roads where mobile service fails, and only 4% said they do not experience drop-outs on their journeys.

Eight times as many farmers said highway coverage had worsened over the past year as said it had improved.

The company said country music and culture are reaching a new generation of New Zealand fans. Two dedicated country music radio stations launched in New Zealand in 2025, and major international artists have played to large Kiwi crowds.

HelloFresh pointed to the local scene as well. The 2025 NZ Gold Guitar Awards attracted a record 829 entries, with organisers reporting particularly strong growth among teenage entrants. Tussock Country recorded a 26% year-on-year increase in attendances in 2025.

What is in the Country Cookout Box?

The menu features Southern-inspired recipes described by HelloFresh as smoky, sticky and satisfying:

• Tex-Mex Pulled Pork & Rodeo Rice Bowl, with creamy corn slaw and Cheddar
• Glazed Louisiana Chicken & Creamy Potato Salad, with pear-celery slaw
• Ranch-Style Texan Beef Loaded Fries, with avo salad, charred onion and smokey aioli
• Smokehouse Southern-Spiced Chicken, with creamy parsnip-potato salad and corn slaw
• Double Chocolate Brownies

HelloFresh On The Menu

Hannah Gilbert, head of culinary at HelloFresh New Zealand, said the company wanted to offer something different at dinnertime.

“We wanted Country Cookout to give Kiwis something a little different at dinnertime – big, bold flavours that are fun to eat but still easy to pull together,” she said.

She said the recipes draw on flavours associated with Southern-style cooking and are designed to be simple to make at home.

“It’s an easy way to shake up the usual midweek dinner without adding more work to the evening,” she said.

The Country Cookout Box is available to order until 3 November 2026 through hellofresh.co.nz.

Ballance chief executive Kelvin Wickham says the co-operative supports National’s policy and its recognition that reliable access to fertiliser and water is critical to on-farm productivity and to the New Zealand economy.

“Primary production is, more than ever, the engine of our economy, and fertiliser security is food and economic security for New Zealand,” Wickham says.

National’s policy, announced this morning, comes after significant disruptions to shipping routes, global fertiliser prices and availability amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Associate agriculture spokesperson Mike Butterick said without reliable access, the farm sector would not be able to sustain its current production base.

“New Zealand plans for fuel security and energy security. National believes we should also plan for fertiliser security to protect New Zealand’s productive economy,” he said.

The party would also, if elected, create a $10m fund to partner with domestic fertiliser manufacturers to support pathways for long-term domestic nitrogen production and the transition from natural gas to electrification.

“National will prioritise reducing reliance on imports and improve certainty of availability for our farmers,” says Butterick.

Wickham agrees that the conflict in the Middle East has shown the importance of planning for soil nutrients the way the country plans for fuel, and secure, well-managed supply supports both productive farms and the New Zealand economy. “We welcome the focus on working directly with supplier countries to keep fertiliser flowing when markets are disrupted.”

Wickham is urging bipartisan support for this policy direction so that farmers and investors have confidence it will stand the test of time.

“Ballance will continue working with all parties, before and after the election, to help ensure a secure and resilient nutrient supply chain,” he says.

But in the early 1990s, stock horses on farms began to disappear due to a growing preference for quad bikes and later side-by-sides or UTVs. Suckling knew he had to change the direction of his business.

Seeing potential in the quad market, in 1991 Suckling launched his first product, a cab for quads called Quad Pod.

Over the coming years, as UTVs began replacing quad bikes, Suckling ventured into cab kits and accessories like windscreens and launched a new business, Ag-Tech Industries in Dargaville.

Soon, UTV cab kits were in hot demand, and the saddle business ceased.

The biggest breakthrough came in 2012 when the world’s first flexible crush protection device (CPD) for quads was launched - the ATV LifeGuard.

The LifeGuard began winning innovation and health and safety awards and by 2014 over 1000 had sold, including a first shipment to Australia.

Innovation continued to play a key role in the company’s development and by 2019 a new flexible crush protection device made from plastic, the QuadGuard, was launched.

Today the business, under the name Trax Equipment, makes windscreens, roof kits, doors, stock crates, mudflap kits and CPDs.

Vernon Suckling has retired and his son Kerry and son-in-law Kingsley now manage the business, which carries the reputation of making farm work easier and safer for side-by-side and ATV users.

Kerry told Rural News that problem-solving is what built the Trax reputation from day one.

“It hasn’t stopped since. Honda, Yamaha, Polaris, CF Moto – every model that’s landed on our shores has brought a new design challenge.

“Trax has met every one of them. If your quad or UTV is doing real work on the farm, there’s a solid chance something on it carries the Trax name.”

However, Kerry says the part of the range that matters most doesn’t get talked about enough. Quad bike rollovers are still one of the leading causes of death and serious injury on New Zealand farms. Not a statistic – a reality that too many rural families know firsthand, he adds.

Trax’s award-winning Lifeguard crush protection device, and its next-generation QuadGuard, exist for exactly that reason.

Kerry says they aren’t accessories and could be the difference between life and death for quad bike riders involved in a rollover.

When the NZ Government decided to reintroduce roll bars due to the number of deaths, Kerry recalls a person coming up to his dad and suggesting the concept of “a Roman arch could be incorporated into a roll bar somehow”.

“This got dad thinking and he made many prototypes out of wooden blocks before launching one at Mystery Creek which won an award.

“That got dad a lot of attention all around.”

The CPDs are now sold worldwide. While Australia and New Zealand are the main markets, the UK is also embracing CPDs made in New Zealand. Lifeguard CPDs have also been sent to Antarctica to be fitted on ATVs used there.

Kerry believes his dad’s innovation has been a game changer for farm safety.

“We’ve had many numerous reports of how it’s [prevented] injury or death.”

CPDs are not mandatory but WorkSafe and ACC strongly encourage farmers to have their ATVs fitted with one.

So, what’s Kerry’s message to quad bike users?

“It is their call at the end of the day, but too many ATV riders are killed or seriously injured in rollovers and the stats speak for themselves, CPDs and helmets are a crucial part of preventing this.

“It’s like a seatbelt in a car: it minimises your chances of injury or worse if there’s a mishap.”

For a limited time, farmers can access a 20% discount code for CPDs from Trax Equipment and Safer Farms thanks to the Safer Rides programme - saving up to $395 on selected models. To apply for your discount visit www.saferfarms.org.nz/safer-rides-2026

Alliance Co-operative Chair Mark Wynne said the planned distribution would include two payments to eligible farmer-shareholders: a dividend for shareholding and a supply rebate for eligible livestock supply. Of the total, 45% will be paid as a dividend and 55% as a supply-based rebate.

The dividend and rebate are expected to be distributed to farmers in late 2026.

Further Distribution Planned

A further distribution of up to $20 million is planned for next year, subject to livestock flows. Seventy-five per cent is expected to be paid as a rebate and 25% retained as earnings.

"This planned distribution reflects the commitment to returning value to farmer-shareholders while continuing to strengthen the business," Wynne said.

"Reset-and-Growth Phase"

Alliance Chief Executive Niall Browne said the company is making good progress.

"Ten months on since the transaction with Dawn Meats, Alliance is changing for the better," he said. "After a tough few years, the business is moving into a reset-and-growth phase, built on disciplined improvements across the areas that will drive future shareholder value."

Browne said Alliance is maintaining its market share across lamb, mutton, beef and venison, with potential for growth. He said the company's financial performance continues to improve, and its focus is on turning that progress into stronger, more consistent returns.

"That means doing the basics better every day," Browne said.

He said Alliance is investing in plant upgrades to improve safety, reliability, efficiency, environmental performance and product quality. It is also streamlining livestock procurement, staying closer to customers and making faster decisions closer to its plants and regions.

"We are delivering against what we promised," he said.

What Shareholders Need To Do

Farmer-shareholders are being encouraged to check their livestock supply numbers in the Alliance farmer portal.

Alliance has not set out the detailed criteria for eligibility in the announcement.

With those in the primary sector facing uncertainty - geopolitical events, looming El Niño and a general election around the corner - what assurances of support can you give the farming community?

NZ First

There can be absolute assurance that New Zealand First will continue to prioritise the primary sector within the next government. We have a strong policy focus on regional New Zealand and understand implicitly that 82% of New Zealand's merchandise exports are derived from the efforts of our farmers, growers, fishers and foresters. Sectors that are not only vital for underpinning thriving rural communities but fundamental to the overall economic performance of New Zealand as a whole.

We have a proven track record of standing up for maligned and neglected industries like mining, fishing, aquaculture, forestry and wool and will continue to promote policies that prioritise their future.

Our track record in using our political leverage in coalition negotiations is to secure funding for regional infrastructure, previously via the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) and during this term of government, the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF). We have secured funding for key regional infrastructure like flood protection, water storage and irrigation projects and port upgrades.

We believe the regions earning the money should get a fair share back from Wellington. Regional development will continue to be a huge focus for us and policies like returning half of mining royalties to to the regions they are extracted from will further advantage rural New Zealand.

Labour

Just like the cost-of-living crisis, our farmers are having a cost-of-farming crisis. Rising costs, energy insecurity, biosecurity risks and extreme weather are all putting pressure on farming businesses and our rural communities.

Government has a role to play in easing those pressures. We are focused on practical policies that give the rural sector the confidence and certainty they need to remain profitable, build resilient businesses, and plan for the future. Our Small Business Action Plan is an example of this. Small business owners will get paid sooner, get more support to invest in the equipment they need, and keep more of what they earn.

National

Our track record and farm profitability is the best assurance we can offer.

When we came into government, farmers were facing a price on livestock emissions, a ute tax and a pile of new rules from Wellington. We scrapped the ute tax in our first weeks. We scrapped He Waka Eke Noa and took agriculture out of the ETS. And we started cutting back the red tape.

Farmers noticed. In late 2023, rural confidence in the Federated Farmers survey was at an all-time low of negative 66%. Within two years it had rebounded to plus 37%, one of the biggest turnarounds, because farmers were allowed to farm again. We declared Labour's war on farmers over, and we've celebrated your success. Farmers are now more confident about profitability than at my time since records began.

The sector has responded. Food and fibre exports are forecast to hit a record $64.3 billion this year. Across the whole economy, exports are up around $20 billion since we took office. One in every seven New Zealanders works in the primary sector, and our goal is to double export value in ten years.

Trade is a big part of that. We've concluded deals with the UAE and the six Gulf states. Our free trade agreement with India comes into force on 20 October. It removes or cuts tariffs on 95% of what we sell there and opens up a market of 1.4 billion people. Exports to the EU have risen $3 billion.

Today we have more market access than we can supply. That's a good problem to have, but we need to fix it. In our next term, our land use flexibility policy will make it easier for farmers to change how they use their land, so they can produce more while still meeting our sensible environmental and climate obligations.

Strong national numbers don't make life easy on every farm. Conflict in the Middle East is pushing up fuel and fertiliser prices.

El Niño could bring a dry summer. Farmers carry that risk every day, and we know it.

So we'll keep backing you when it gets tough. That means the Rural Support Trusts, Farmstrong and the Rural Wellbeing Fund. It means simpler rules and consents for on-farm water storage. It means $40.5 million over four years for catchment groups, because locals usually know what works best in their own patch.

And it means certainty. We've replaced the RMA. For the first time, food and fibre production is now written into the new Natural Environment Act as a goal.

We'll also soon announce new policy on water storage and irrigation. It will boost rural production and give the world's best farmers the certainty to invest.

Opportunity

We believe there are two things farmers - and indeed all New Zealanders - need from the government in these increasingly uncertain times. Political stability and investment in innovation.

Returning stability to politics is central to Opportunity's platform this election. That's why we have called for a 30-year infrastructure strategy with the buildout of our roads, bridges, power plants and other critical infrastructure led by the Infrastructure Commission, not politicians. It's also why we will convene cross-party plans for health, education and energy - so the system settings for these services stop changing each election cycle. Underpinning our commitment to stability is our Citizen's Voice policy, which will mainstream the use of Citizen's Assemblies in central and local government to ensure that decisions are real, lasting and informed by the communities those decisions affect.

Innovation is how we meet the challenges coming at us, because there are no problems that farmers and Kiwi innovators cannot solve, if given the proper support to get on and solve them. Our Breakthrough Economy policy includes a generational uplift in our research and development spending, with a focus on funding our regional polytechnics, agricultural scientists and technology incubator programmes properly. We will also back small businesses, like farms, to step-up their technology rollout through a 25% tax credit on new investments, and make financial and accounting support services for small businesses more widespread.

That was the message from Meat Industry Association chair Nathan Guy in his opening address at last week's Red Meat Sector Conference in Wellington.

He told the 300 delegates that many good things are happening in the sector and pointed to the investment taking place in the sector - notably the Irish meat processing giant Dawn Meats taking a 65% shareholding in Alliance and ANZCO taking over the successful Greenlea Meats.

The theme of the conference was 'managing volatility', appropriate given the myriad of geopolitical events impacting the red meat sector at present. But Guy insists that the industry is nimble and agile.

"We have always faced headwinds, but it just so happens they are blowing pretty hard in our face at the moment," he told Rural News.

"We are worried about the US investigation to ours and Australian lamb exports there and claims that these are 'injuring' American lamb producers," he says.

The sheep flock in the US is a mere five million, and Guy says NZ does not believe that its exports to the US are impacting negatively on their sheep producers. Rather he says our lamb goes into their market at a time when American lamb is not on supermarket shelves and there is a strong argument that having lamb on shelves for 12 months of the year is beneficial to all parties.

He says other challenges are the high cost of diesel and rising freight costs, which are impacting on profitability right across the sector. Another problem is the proliferation of non-tariff trade barriers - or specific rules that countries we export to impose on us to protect their own producers.

"These are costing us $1.5 billion a year and we are working closely with MPI and MFAT to eliminate these," he says.

Despite the volatility, there are many positives emerging. The conference heard from a variety of experts in market intelligence and international trade, including Simon Quilty and Brett Stuart from Global Agritrends who pointed to a positive outlook for beef exports to the US.

Making a video appearance at the conference was the former CEO of Air New Zealand, Greg Foran, who now heads up Kroger - a large US company which runs supermarkets, manufacturing facilities and other retail outlets.

One unexpected insight from him was the fact that about 12% of Americans are now on weight loss drugs - a trend likely to continue. This has positive implications for NZ because people need high-quality protein which our beef offers.

Guy says NZ can meet this need immediately, although he says our processing companies may need to reduce the size of the portions of the meat they supply.

Immediately after the conference, Guy in his capacity as NZ's special trade envoy left for India, taking a delegation of representatives from the primary sector to progress the benefits of the recent India FTA that comes into force later this month. While he'll be supporting the apple and pear, kiwifruit and honey sectors, he also plans to attend a wool and textile expo and take part in a lamb promotion.

"The timing of this trip is perfect because there's a lot at stake and a need to build the relationship with India," he says.

Participants at the recent Arable Sector Forum were actively following up on the five big headings to consider how they could best be addressed.

As a research, development and extension organisation, FAR's work would continue to bring a sharp a focus as possible on the things that make a difference to the growing of crops, "whether that's about improving profitability or reducing costs or whatever it might be".

Champion said FAR was looking more closely at connecting arable to other sectors, primarily dairy and sheep and beef.

He noted that 75% of wheat and barley go into animal feeds rather than human consumption, and probably 90% of arable farms would carry livestock in some form.

"So how do we think about connecting better into dairy, identifying and then providing the opportunities around using New Zealand grains for supplementary feeding in those pasture-based systems?

"These are some of the things that we're turning our attention to."

However, there were some barriers to replacing imported feeds with local grains, such as their nutritional profiles versus animal nutrition needs, and greenhouse gas impacts.

"We've released some life cycle analysis data recently which is the first New Zealand generated data across maize grain, maize silage, feed wheat and feed barley.

"We now recognise that there are dairy farmers who are interested in it and there are small incentives that are available at the moment for lowering emissions."

While PKE was the most common imported feed, there were others such as dried distillers' grain and soy.

"The reality is we won't be able to substitute all of that. The volumes are more than we produce here in New Zealand."

Champion has been in the role as FAR CEO since July last year, following several years with Beef+Lamb NZ and in a private consultancy.

He said the organisation recently released a new five year strategy focusing on four key goals, with strong connection to growers and collaboration at the heart of FAR's approach.

One goal area was building an understanding of arable and "getting a bit more visibility" on what arable does, said Champion.

Arable had a strategic role in underpinning the sheep and beef and dairy sectors, both through the provision of grazing land in mixed farm systems - which was becoming more important in key areas like Canterbury - and in the supply of the pastoral and forage seeds that drive those big export industries.

He says this needs to be fixed because it's inhibiting development in these areas.

He cites a report by the combined Chambers of Commerce of the South Island which points out the funding for infrastructure across the country is wrong because it prioritises population growth over economic growth.

Patterson says, for example, the South Island is only getting 11% of the national roading funding. Yet, he says, there are rural roads in the South Island that need resealing and bridges that need repairing.

"We have got to be wary that some of the big mega projects don't suck out the potential to maintain our rural infrastructure, because it is under a lot of pressure to severe weather-related events. If you look at really productive areas like Tairawhiti, they face huge challenges at times getting their product to market," he says.

Patterson says lack of infrastructure is hindering economic development in areas with known huge potential.

Another issue that is inhibiting growth in some rural areas is a lack of quality internet access. He says the telcos keep saying everything is right, but Patterson says that's not the feedback he's receiving. He says the rollout of broadband has reached 87%, but asks, what about the remaining 13%?

"We can't have digital poverty in NZ and a lot more work needs to be done. Lack of quality broadband is not only affecting farmers to run their businesses properly, but it's making some people think twice about working in some remote places. There's a perception in Wellington that the job is done - well it isn't," he says.

Finally, Patterson says in all his interactions with rural communities, the issue of most concern is that of health.

He says health services are under pressure in multiple places and are just being held together by very dedicated and hardworking professionals on the frontline.

He says Labour's decision to restructure the health service in the middle of the Covid pandemic was madness. 

He says a number of moves are underway to improve the situation.

"Often some of the problems could be fixed with the addition of a few thousand dollars. And this could result in a more comprehensive service," he says.

Patterson says there is a need to fortify rural health services to take the pressure off base hospitals.

Sheepmeat exports were worth $309m, 20% more than in August last year.

China increased 46% to $71m, while the United Kingdom rose 118% to $54m and became the third-largest sheepmeat market by value for the month.

Beef exports increased 26% in value to $403m. The US remained the leading market at $155m, up 30% while China rose 12% to $79m and Canada increased 55% to $18m. Fifth-quarter exports were worth $156m, an increase of 13%.

Meat Industry Association chief executive Nick Beeby said the result underlined the value the sector continues to generate for New Zealand.

"A 23% lift in export value is a strong result. Export volumes have also increased compared with August last year, but the more significant movement is in value, reflecting improved returns from international markets.

“The breadth of the result is encouraging, with export values higher across all major markets and gains for both sheepmeat and beef in China.”

However, Beeby says one month’s data should be viewed in context, given the global volatility and costof- living pressures that may push some consumers towards lower-value proteins.

The August result builds on the returns for the 2025/26 financial year (year ending 30 June), where red meat and fifth quarter exports were worth $13.1 billion. This was 21% higher than in 2024/25 and a record annual export value.

After posting a record net operating profit of $113 million for the 2026 financial year, the SOE has trimmed back its forecast 2027 net operating profit to a range of $77 million to $87m in its integrated report released last week.

In August, Pāmu reported a NOP of $113 million, up from $49 million the previous year, alongside a net profit after tax of $160 million. The Government received $25m in dividends from Pāmu for 2026, including a $10m special dividend reflecting Fonterra's special capital return to farmer shareholders.

While farms are still on track to increase production, chief executive Mark Leslie says the profit forecast revision has come down due to two factors - rising input costs and weather.

"Those additional feed, fertiliser, and fuel prices mean nearly $30 million of additional costs that the businesses are facing this year, so that's a big reason for the backing off that profit," he told Rural News.

"We haven't backed off on the production side of it, so that's being held.

"We are watching, like everybody is probably watching, two things now: one is those fuel and fertiliser feed costs, and the other, what plays out with weather conditions around El Nino.

"But if you look at a $77 million to $87 million range, if you asked me two to three years ago how that looks, it looked pretty positive."

This year's record results reflect the progress Pāmu has made in strengthening the commercial performance of its core farming business.

Strong protein prices supported the result, but they were not the whole story, says Leslie.

"An estimated 60% of the improvement came from productivity and operational performance: producing more from our land, livestock and people, managing costs carefully, and making better decisions across the portfolio," he says.

Over recent years, he says Pāmu has maintained a disciplined focus on the fundamentals of farming performance, growing more feed, improving animal performance, managing costs carefully, and ensuring resources are directed to where they create the greatest value.

Pāmu dairy farms produced 15.8m kgMS last year, 13% more than the previous year. Livestock productivity rose slightly to 22m kg liveweight.

At the same time, cost of production for conventional dairy dropped 7% to $6.99/kgMS, went up 10% for organic dairy and up 7% for livestock.

Leslie says their priority is now to lock in the gains made.

"That means continuing to lift productivity, sharpen capital allocation, manage costs and risks, and focus effort where it will have the greatest commercial impact.

"We also recognise that ongoing global volatility and forecast El Nino conditions are expected to increase costs in the coming year. We will keep investing in people, systems and stewardship where they support stronger operating performance and long-term value creation.

"There is more work ahead, but the direction is clear. When we stay focused on our core operations, make good commercial decisions and keep lifting productivity, we create value for our shareholder and, through that performance, contribute practical benefit to New Zealand agriculture."

Champion recently acted as facilitator for an Arable Sector Forum that brought together FAR, Federated Farmers, the Ministry for Primary Industries and growers, to grapple with an exodus of farmers reportedly leaving the sector in search of better returns.

Champion told Rural News that all the key inputs - fuel, fertiliser, machinery, agrichemicals - had outpaced any gains on the product side.

"Some of those are very significantly beyond our control because of tensions in the Middle East or whatever it might be.

"We can't necessarily address those in the shorter term."

However, he was encouraged by the working relationships evident at the forum. As a smaller sector, everyone knew everyone else, and no one was trying to hide from the challenges, he said.

"The fact that people have come together and getting some energy and momentum into this conversation is really positive.

"I'm really encouraged by, number one, the recognition of the issues; and number two, the desire to do something about it and the willingness to actually move and try to move reasonably quickly."

A press release following the meeting said it identified five initial priorities for action and further engagement with the sector:

• Addressing poor on-farm profitability and managing costs
• Improving market intelligence and data to support on-farm decisions
• Growing the partnership between the arable sector and the dairy and livestock sectors
• Identifying opportunities to improve transport and logistics
• Developing customer recognition of the benefits of New Zealand grown grains.

Associate Minister of Agriculture Mike Butterick, who attended the forum, says arable growers played a vital role in New Zealand's food and fibre sector and economy.

"Arable growers produce the grain, feed and seed that underpin livestock production, horticulture, food manufacturing, and pastoral farming systems across New Zealand.

"The Government recognises the strategic importance of the arable sector in driving the prosperity of our rural communities and the New Zealand economy.

"At the Forum, there was a real sense of optimism, with everyone committing to positive action and acknowledging that we can achieve more together.

"The Government continues to drive positive changes for the sector through significant and sensible reforms in resource and freshwater management, cutting red tape, and investing in innovation and climate-friendly initiatives.

"We're committed to continue working alongside the arable sector to create the right environment for a thriving, profitable, and resilient sector."

David Birkett, immediate past Federated Farmers arable chair, said the Feds were committed to supporting efforts to help drive the arable sector's long-term success and rebuild growers' confidence.

"The Forum enabled first steps towards supporting our growers to navigate challenges, strengthen financial resilience, and capture future opportunities."