Changes to dairy systems for valued returns

7 March 2016

By 2025 New Zealand could have a dairy industry emitting 25% less greenhouse gases, 40% fewer pathogens and nitrogen, and earning 60-100% more profit. It would be able to pride itself on being the “farmers’ market for the global village”.

Robust result for PGG Wrightson

24 February 2016

PGG Wrightson has delivered a robust half-year result, despite challenges faced by farming customers in New Zealand.

$100,000 stag roars for industry

16 February 2016

For the first time in more than a decade a sire stag has fetched more than six figures over the summer sales, which are said to serve as a barometer for the mood of New Zealand’s deer industry.

Forest planting boom forecast if carbon goes over $25 a tonne

5 February 2016

Carbon prices of between $15 and $20 a tonne are estimated to be required to make investment in agricultural land for forestry planting “affordable”, says a paper prepared for the Government’s review of the emissions trading scheme.

NZ lagging in global value chain participation

2 February 2016

New statistical profiles released by the World Trade Organisation on global value chains (GVCs) shows New Zealand to be less connected to GVCs than other developed countries.

Round-up: Global slump in fert prices benefits NZ farmers

1 February 2016

New Zealand farmers stand to benefit from significant savings on their farm nutrient inputs with Ballance Agri-Nutrients’ latest round of price reductions, effective January 31.

The price review sees urea drop $50 to $525, DAP reduce $25 a tonne, sulphate of ammonia by $15 and potash by $10. These changes will flow through to product blends.

Round-up: Pasture growth up four-fold

21 January 2016

Pasture growth for the first half of January has painted a completely different picture compared to what was being observed this time last year. Growth levels are near normal for the majority of the North Island. Pasture growth has ranged from near-normal to above normal-levels for the east coast of the South Island which is welcome news for those still struggling with poor feed levels and a lack of moisture. 

Improvements sought for EU agchem approvals

15 January 2016

Government ministers will seek improvements in the European agchem approvals system as part of the United Kingdom’s European Union renegotiation.

The pledge came as Syngenta’s chief operating officer, Jon Parr, said the EU’s pesticide regulatory system was “coming close to crisis”.

Round-up: Largest annual fall in food prices since 2012

15 January 2016

In the year to December 2015 food prices decreased 1.3%, influenced by lower prices for grocery foods, Statistics New Zealand said today. This is the largest annual fall since July 2012.

Grocery food prices decreased 3.0% over the year, led by lower prices for some dairy products, and for breads and cereals. Fresh milk prices were down 14% compared with the same period last year.

Get set for Fourth Industrial Revolution

14 January 2016

The year is only two weeks old, but it already looks like 2016 will follow 1784, 1870 and 1969 into the annals of economic history as a year marking the start of an industrial revolution, in this case the cyber-physical industrial revolution.