KiwiBrothersTM make their China debut
Zespri has unveiled the award-winning KiwiBrothersTM mascots in China for the first time to market its large kiwifruit crop.
Orchard values are going through the roof compared even with pre-Psa levels, says Zespri chief operating officer Simon Limmer.
He says the vine killing disease Psa impacted growers' balance sheets significantly, but the banks were flexible in working through Psa issues with growers.
"Most growers were able to survive Psa and see their orchard values not only recover but increase significantly. Land values in kiwifruit country are through the roof, particularly the Gold but even the Green.
"The kiwifruit industry is attracting a lot of attention in the primary sector compared to what's going on with other primary industries."
Orchard gate returns are about $65,000/ha on average across the whole industry. That's compared to about $30,000 in the 2005-06 period.
Limmer adds that Gold3 has been a big driver of the shift, so has greater productivity overall, particularly in Green.
The Green on average is forecast to maintain on average $50,000/ha; the cost per hectare has risen significantly in the last few years from about $20,000 to $25,000 - $30,000/ha.
Psa forced growers to be more vigilant and more proactive in protecting their crops. But productivity has also grown.
Gold is delivering $100,000 - $130,000/ha in yield and market price. On-orchard costs are $30,000 - $35,000/ha and productivity is higher.
The value of a Gold orchard is said to be about $600,000/ha (from about $450,000/ha pre Psa) and Green is about $400,000/ha (from about $250,000/ha).
The lobby group the Methane Science Accord (MSA) says it welcomes a recent government move to seek outside advice on reducing biological methane targets, rather than relying on recommendations made by the Climate Change Commission.
After a decade of consultation and court battles, Environment Southland has officially adopted a plan to prevent further decline in the region's water quality.
Farmers are throwing down the gauntlet to politicians - hold an independent inquiry into rural bank lending or face tough questions from the farming sector.
China’s Ambassador Wang Xiaolong says bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and New Zealand has made significant and rapid progress.
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.