Australian teams to help repair North Canterbury irrigators after storm
Moves are afoot to get a team of Australians over here to help repair North Canterbury's irrigation machinery, ravaged by the big windstorm of late October.
The future for irrigating farmers in Otago will come under the spotlight at IrrigationNZ's first-ever AGM in the region next month.
The AGM will take place on Thursday 5 November. All irrigating farmers and potential irrigators are invited to attend a workshop beforehand at 10.30am, which will precede the 12.30pm AGM at the Cellar Door Restaurant in Alexandra.
IrrigationNZ CEO Andrew Curtis says the workshop will cover how national policy impacts irrigation in the region and how Otago irrigators can best equip themselves to benefit from this. The discussion will be based on a recent report that IrrigationNZ commissioned outlining the challenges and opportunities facing Otago irrigators.
"We'll be presenting the big picture of what's ahead for irrigators in this area. The regulatory barriers you need to be aware of, alongside the prospects for growth and innovation in our sector. If you're already irrigating, thinking about converting or upgrading irrigation infrastructure, you need to be at this workshop."
IrrigationNZ chair Nicky Hyslop and Curtis will present an overview of the national situation and IrrigationNZ's role in advocating for industry, while report author Suzie McKeague will highlight significant findings from her report around the prospects for Otago irrigators.
Last month's Agritechnica event led to a wide group of manufacturers celebrating successes when the 2026 Tractor of the Year Competition winners, selected by a panel of European journalists, were announced in Hanover Germany.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.