Rabobank 2026 Outlook: Geopolitics shapes global agriculture
The global agricultural landscape has entered a new phase where geopolitics – not only traditional market forces – will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices, and production decisions.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE at the end of April for this year's Rabobank Farm Managers Program, a business management course for the next generation of farm leaders.
It offers young farmers from across New Zealand and Australia, and a range of agricultural sectors, the opportunity to develop and enhance their business management skills.
Rabobank business programs manager Nerida Sweetapple says the Farm Managers Program is constantly evolving to reflect changes in the agriculture.
"We make adjustments each year to the program content to reflect feedback from participants and our own research – as 2014 is the International Year of the Family Farm, the pressing issue of farm succession will be a key focus of this year's program," Sweetapple says.
Delivered in one week-long residential module, the program covers the latest practices in business management, leadership, planning, finance, and communication and how these can be applied directly to participants' farm businesses.
Only a limited number of high calibre applicants are accepted for each year's intake, selected from a group of leading farmers from a range of commodities and geographical locations in New Zealand and Australia.
Sweetapple says many past participants credit the Farm Managers Program with giving them the tools and inspiration to develop their farm career and take their business to a new level.
Applications for the 2014 Rabobank Farm Managers Program are open until April 28. This year's program will be held at the Grange Cleveland Winery, Lancefield, Victoria from June 16-20.
Media Release April 9, 2014
Primary producers interested in further information on the program or an application form can contact Nerida Sweetapple on +61 2 8115 4139 or visit www.rabobank.co.nz/bmp.
The Government is set to announce two new acts to replace the contentious Resource Management Act (RMA) with the Prime Minister hinting that consents required by farmers could reduce by 46%.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change would be “a really dumb move”.
The University of Waikato has broken ground on its new medical school building.
Undoubtedly the doyen of rural culture, always with a wry smile, our favourite ginger ninja, Te Radar, in conjunction with his wife Ruth Spencer, has recently released an enchanting, yet educational read centred around rural New Zealand in one hundred objects.
Farmers are being urged to keep on top of measures to control Cysticerus ovis - or sheep measles - following a spike in infection rates.
The avocado industry is facing an extremely challenging season with all parts of the supply chain, especially growers, being warned to prepare for any eventuality.

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