China-NZ FTA upgrade
An upgraded free trade agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and China comes into force from April 7.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced a $6.25 million investment in mapping New Zealand’s most valuable soils.
“The more we know about our natural resources, including soils, the better we can make good sustainable land use decisions,” O’Connor said.
He says that good farm planning advice and good data are essential to the roadmap.
The government will invest the money, which was allocated in the 2019 Productive and Sustainable Land Use package, in expanding S-Map.
S-Map is a tool which combines on-the-ground soil sampling with digital mapping technologies.
“Expanding S-Map will have lasting benefits for our regions,” O’Connor said.
MPI has commissioned Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research to work with councils across New Zealand over the next five years to carry out the project.
The project could add approximately 1.5 million hectares of land to S-Map.
Manaaki Whenua chief executive Dr Richard Gordon says the information provided by S-Map is important for freshwater modelling and nutrient limit setting.
“We know there is strong demand for greater S-map coverage, to inform decision making on a range of national issues including climate change, food production, and meeting new freshwater regulations.”
As of August 2020, S-Map covers 50 percent of New Zealand’s farmable land (36 percent of total land).
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.