Hort urged to back controversial emissions plan
The country's horticulturalists have been urged to get in behind the controversial He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) agricultural emissions plan.
Hamish Gates from Pukekohe has beaten off tough competition to be crowned New Zealand Young Vegetable Grower 2015.
The day-long competition, which is supported by Horticulture New Zealand, took place in in Pukekohe on 16 April. On the day, the four competitors battled it out in a series of practical and theoretical challenges designed to test the skills needed to run a successful vegetable growing business.
“Winning the competition was really unexpected and this year’s had some of the best young growers I’ve met,” says Gates, a 24-year-old washline supervisor at AS Wilcox & Sons.
Gates has won a travel grant for professional development valued at $2,500. The prize also includes a one-day media and presentation course in Wellington, all-expenses paid trip to Christchurch to compete for the national 2015 Young Grower of the Year title in August and attendance at the 2015 Horticulture New Zealand Conference.
“I’m looking forward to competing in the national Young Grower title and will be stepping up my preparation over the next few months,” he says.
Kiran Hari, co-ordinator of the competition, says, “It’s great to see how much talent our young growers have. We know that our industry demands a lot, and we’re looking forward to seeing our young talent continue to progress and grow their careers over the coming years.”
Michael Anderson (29) from Canterbury was placed second and third place went to Lance Pratt (29) from Pukekohe.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Two major red meat sector projects are getting up to a combined $1.7 million in funding from the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer of The Wandle, Lone Star Farms in Strath Taieri have been named the Regional Supreme Winners at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Dunedin.
OPINION: The distress that the politicians and bureaucrats are causing to the people of Wairoa and the wider Tairāwhiti is unforgivable.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…