India FTA Unites NZ First, Greens
National’s much-touted free trade deal with India featured in the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek, Hamilton on Wednesday night.
OPINION: Last week's announcement by the Government to remove a decades-long ban on genetically engineered crops was generally well-received by farming and science communities.
Even the Greens and Labour are not ruling out supporting the legislation when it’s likely to be tabled in Parliament sometime next year.
But there’s one organisation, that’s still not budging – Greenpeace. The environment lobby claims that unproven genetically engineered methane inhibitors will not solve New Zealand dairy’s climate pollution problem.
NZ farmers are always looking for new technologies to help them improve their production, increase their profit, or reduce their environmental footprint, including emissions – ‘the climate crisis’. Removing the ban will help them immensely. Sadly, Greenpeace continues to see red over gene technology.
Farmer-owned fertiliser company, Ballance Agri Nutrients is welcoming National’s plan to negotiate security agreements with key supplier countries to protect New Zealand-bound products from export restrictions and greater supply chain certainty.
Carrfields has announced the appointment of Stu Hall to the newly created role of chief operating officer, Carrfields Ltd, reflecting the continued growth of their agribusinesses and the need to ensure the company has the leadership capacity and support in place as it pursues the emerging opportunities ahead.
New Zealand's role is not to compete with Indian growers, according to NZ Apples and Pears.
The potato industry is celebrating the success of two rising stars - James Blair, the 2026 Young Grower of the Year and runner-up and innovation award winner, Amber Davy.
Twenty-eight emerging leaders from across the horticulture sector spent two days last month learning valuable skills and connecting with industry experts.
There are five entrants in this year’s Young Horticulturist of the Year, competing in a series of technical, practical, business and leadership challenges.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.