increase font size
Rural Contractors NZ chief executive Andrew Olsen.
Rural contractors will gather at five roadshows during August to focus on cost volatility and drivers.
The roadshows come as the industry seeks to remain viable during the highest levels of inflation in recent memory
Andrew Olsen, Rural Contractors NZ’s chief executive, says his organisation has been working constructively with Federated Farmers over recent months to develop an accord on cost volatility that works for both contractors and farmers.
“It’s timely to talk about cost shocks in the sector. Contractor and farmers are well aware that cost is entering the system and we want to make sure there is both a legal and responsible way for both sides to transparently meet this challenge,” he says.
“This is an opportunity to refresh contracts that may have served us well but need a few tweaks to deal with the pressures of today. It’s vital to the food and fibre sector that we get this right and that farmers, growers and contractors are all aware of and honour their contractual obligations.”
NZX’s Head of Insight, Julia Jones has been tasked with bringing together indices that properly track costs in fuel, fertiliser and agrichemicals. This will help establish an independent measure based on offshore pricing changes as they rise - and fall.
“Julia will also be keynote speaker at our five RCNZ roadshows and is in a perfect position to talk about and discuss costs in a workshop environment,” says Olsen.
The RCNZ roadshows start in Palmerston North on August 8, with sessions in Whangarei August 9 and Hamilton August 10, Gore on August 24 and Christchurch August 25. The roadshows will include presentations from MPI and Growsafe on best practice in agrichemical handling.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
Federated Farmers says the final report into banking competition is a significant step forward for rural New Zealand - and a vindication of the farming sector's concern.
Farmer lobby group Federated Farmers has announced it is supporting a new Member’s Bill which it says could bring clarity to New Zealand farmers and save millions in legal costs.
Federated Farmers says climate protest group Greenpeace is manufacturing outrage and attempting to scare New Zealanders with headlines that have no basis in science.
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.
DairyNZ says its plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical, science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.
'Common sense' cuts to government red tape will make it easier for New Zealand to deliver safe food to more markets.
Balclutha farmer Renae Martin remembers the moment she fell in love with cows.
Academic freedom is a privilege and it's put at risk when people abuse it.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.
