Wired for Science: Understanding the feeding habits of mealybug
Fussy children might be frustrating, but fussy mealybugs could help protect the New Zealand wine industry from grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3.
Seven new AGMARDT scholarships totalling $50,000 have been granted to agribusiness people undertaking leadership and governance training.
The scholarships are available for people who want to grow their leadership or governance skills to take on future leadership roles within agribusiness and beyond says AGMARDT's general manager Malcolm Nitschke.
He congratulated the winners, four of whom are undertaking the Kellogg's rural leadership programme at Lincoln University.
Others are taking part in the AWDT Escalator programme, or going on Fonterra and Institute of Directors courses, or high performance leadership courses.
"We believe the success of New Zealand agribusiness will be driven by talented and inspired leadership," he says.
Scholarships were granted to:
· Jolene Germann of Fast Track Dairies Ltd from Otautau;
· Joanne Kerslake from AbacusBio, Dunedin;
· Natalie Bowie of AgriOne, Palmerston North;
· Marcus Peacock of Hononga, Waipukurau;
· Sarah Bell of Taroa Holdings Ltd, Taihape,
· Dylan Barrett of PRP International Property Consultants from Tauranga, and
· Carla Muller, of DairyNZ, Hamilton.
This is the first time AGMARDT has awarded specific scholarships for leadership and governance training, and Nitschke says they will become an annual event. Applicants were nominated by industry organisations or groups.
See www.agmardt.org.nz
The Push-Up Challenge, an event which combines mental health and fitness, is set to launch in New Zealand in 2026.
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.

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