Reading Time: 3 minutes By Rachel Keedwell, chair of Horizons Regional Council When I read the piece in Farmers Weekly last week from Federated Farmers Manawatū-Rangitīkei president Ian Strahan, there were parts I could agree with. Kiwi farmers are working hard to improve the environment, supported by Horizons through programmes like the Sustainable Land Use Initiative and partnerships via groups including the Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord.  Strahan is also right about farmers doing it tough with high inflation, rising interest rates and low commodity prices. I want to thank him and the ..read more

Reading Time: < 1 minute The grape harvest in Marlborough and Martinborough was down 21% this season compared with last season, listed company Foley Wines has reported. It has the Te Kairanga, Martinborough, Vavasour, Grove Mill and Mt Difficulty brands. The Foley harvest was 6404 tonnes compared with 8137t in 2022-23, chief executive Mark Turnbull said. Marlborough and Martinborough experienced disruptive weather and cooler spring growing conditions resulting in a region-wide reduction in yield. The lower yields and the warm and dry summer resulted in an earlier harvest than usual in Marlb ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Continued weak prices and demand from China are partly to blame for a 5% drop in red meat exports for the first quarter of this year. Data released by the Meat Industry Association shows exports for the quarter, compared to a year earlier, were $2.58 billion, the lowest value for that period since 2018. Export data for March was just as telling. Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said red meat exports for March were worth $949 million, down 9% and the lowest value for the month since 2018. Exports to China for the month were $277m, down 35% compared to a year e ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Along with criticisms of some government headline policies including borrowing for tax cuts, the OECD’s latest economic survey of New Zealand runs a tough eye over the country’s climate change policies. The bi-annual economic survey report takes a particularly close look at NZ’s Emissions Trading Scheme, concluding that this country’s “no limits” approach to using afforestation to absorb carbon makes it almost unique internationally, and leaves it at risk of over-investment in it as a solution. The report’s authors note that the heavy reliance on forestry pushed plantin ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Formal negotiations have been announced to create a Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates.   The pledge to talk was announced on Monday night by the visiting New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay and his UAE counterpart, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. The agreement will be officially named the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The details of deal are still to be worked out in negotiations, but are aimed to give New Zealand better access to almost 10 million people in one of the richest countries in the world, made ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Along with a critique of the country’s ETS scheme, the OECD’s far-reaching economic survey has also looked at the recent consequences of climate change, and New Zealand’s vulnerability to weather events. Analysis of private insurance payments due to losses from weather events shows for the past eight years claim values have taken a significant lift. They jumped up from under $100 million in 2015, to bounce around $250m in 2016-2021, then topped $3.5 billion in 2023, thanks to Cyclone Gabrielle and other heavy rain events. The economic survey report notes the growing los ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes ANZCO Foods has defied the series of financial losses being reported by meat exporters to record a $60.9 million net profit before tax for the 2023 financial year. However, while in the black, the result to December 31 2023 is well down on the $147.7m reported for 2022, reflecting a difficult year. ANZCO’s 2023 profit was generated off a slight drop in turnover, $1.83 billion compared to $1.90bn in 2022. Chief executive Peter Conley said the result was achieved from “a relentless focus on core business activities and growing returns from strategic investments”. “There w ..read more

Reading Time: < 1 minute An online business directory has been launched by Rural Women New Zealand to support rural businesswomen. Called The Country Women’s Collective, the directory will promote and support entrepreneurial rural women. “We know from our annual NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards and Activator programmes that rural businesswomen really want to support each other,” said Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) national president Gill Naylor. “We hope the online directory will become the go-to place for people who want to support local and NZ-made products and services from our ru ..read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes Listening to enable better outcomes for the humble spud is paying dividends for the New Zealand potato industry.  PotatoesNZ chief executive Kate Truffit said the potato industry is having an impact on the wider horticulture industry, leading the way and driving many initiatives.  “With a purpose of listening, enabling and promoting better outcomes, PotatoesNZ is heading in the right direction.” She said areas of note where PotatoesNZ is making a difference include research, development and extension. “In the realm of research, development, and extension, Pota ..read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes Craigmore Sustainables is collaborating with new innovators of technology across sustainability, people, animals and business management to enhance New Zealand’s dairy sector. The company is investing in programmes designed to help both the business and the sector maximise opportunities and address challenges. The sustainability work includes improving water quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing biodiversity. This includes work to support endangered species. Craigmore’s GM Farming Stuart Taylor said the company feels it has a responsibility to i ..read more