If you're a New Zealand Young Farmers Member, or want to be one, then Dunedin's the place to be from May 24 to 27 this year.

Senior students interested in careers in agriculture turned up in droves to the first of this year's Get Ahead Experience days, held at the Karapiro Domain, Waikato.

With a scheme dating from mid-nineties and now covering over 95% of our vineyard area, New Zealand has largely been ahead of the pack when it comes to sustainable winegrowing. However, as New World competitors such as Chile and South Africa instate their own environmental programmes, the gap is starting to narrow.

HISTORICALLY, THE commodities New Zealand exports tend to come under pressure during periods of global duress and uncertainty. Based on this, you'd currently expect New Zealand's key commodity exports to be falling in price. Certainly, the past few months have seen commodity prices ease, but from extraordinary highs, and not as much as other markets.