Fruit fly discovery puts growers, exporters on edge
Fruit growers and exporters are worried following the discovery of a male Queensland fruit fly in Auckland this week.
Andrew Fenton, the president and chair of Horticulture New Zealand since it was established in 2005, will not seek reappointment as president following HortNZ's annual general meeting in late July.
In making the announcement Fenton says he is "very proud of what HortNZ had achieved over the past eight years and it was now time for new leadership.
"It has been a real team effort and we could not have achieved what we have without the strong support of our grower members.
"We started with a strong foundation established by the Fruitgrowers Federation and Vegfed and have built on that in a very positive and powerful way for growers."
Fenton will continue to serve on the board (his current term expires in 2015) to support the new president who will be elected by the eight grower board members following the AGM on July 30.
Additional reductions to costs for forest owners in the Emissions Trading Scheme Registry (ETS) have been announced by the Government.
Animal welfare is of paramount importance to New Zealand's dairy industry, with consumers increasingly interested in how food is produced, not just the quality of the final product.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay is encouraging farmers and growers to stay up to date with weather warnings and seek support should they need it.
The closure of SH2 Waioweka Gorge could result in significant delays and additional costs for freight customers around the Upper North Island, says Transporting New Zealand.
OPINION: The year has started positively for New Zealand dairy farmers and things are likely to get better.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director General Ray Smith believes there is potential for an increase in dairy farming in New Zealand.