How climate change is affecting kiwifruit crop
Climate change and its effects was the number one item on the agenda of the annual International Kiwifruit conference held this year in Greece.
Up and down but not too bad in the circumstances. That's one way of describing Zespri's final result for the 2023-24 season.
Despite all the challenges, including weather, Zespri's global kiwifruit sales for the year were 2% up on the previous season to $3.99 billion, reflecting improved fruit quality and strong pricing secured throughout the season. This result was good considering that the actual number of trays of kiwifruit sold was down 10.5% to 164.2 million trays compared with 183.5 million sold in the previous season.
Zespri's net profit after tax was $173.3 million, down from $238.7 million in 2022/23, mainly driven it says by reduced licence revenue.
In terms of grower returns, those who fared best were those with Zespri green, Zespri green 14 and SunGold with their returns per hectare up on the previous season. However organic green and organic SunGold were down. Zespri ruby Red was almost on a par with the previous season.
Zespri's chief executive Dan Mathieson says the results reflect the industry effort to lift fruit quality, along with strong consumer demand for Zespri Kiwifruit, which he says is encouraging.
OPINION: Irate Southland farmers are on the money denying anglers access across their land.
Over 400 of New Zealand’s stalwart kiwifruit growers gathered in Mount Maunganui this week for a celebration to recognise three major milestones in the industry’s history.
While unrecorded in New Zealand, Bluetongue, an acute viral disease in ruminants, is endemic in tropical and sub-tropical climates.
She came all the way from a sheep station in Tasmania especially to be presented with the top prize in this year's Massey University agriculture, horticulture and environmental science award.
Massey University is tweaking the format of its agricultural courses.
A second Federated Farmers executive has been elected to the DairyNZ board.
OPINION: The Reserve Bank’s rate cut is great news, albeit a bit late, but your old mate agrees with Act…
OPINION: While the Government’s Fast Track bill is copping it from all the usual suspects – opposition parties, greenies, unions…