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Ministers O’Connor and Shaw announced the new legislation on an organic orchard in Opotiki.
New organic products legislation will benefit horticulture
Last week Minister for Agriculture Damien O’Connor announced the Organic Products Bill.
The new legislation clarifies the standards and definitions for products to be considered organic. The new standard will increase consumer confidence in organic products and benefit the domestic and export New Zealand horticulture industry.
‘The new legislation will create a standard that will give consumers greater confidence that the organic fruit and vegetables they are buying have been grown to a rigorous and consistent standard,’ says HortNZ President, Barry O’Neil. ‘At the same time, the new standard will facilitate exports, because it will be accepted overseas without the need for further, market by market, requirements.’
‘Without a doubt, the new standard will help us grow the market for organic fruit and vegetables, in New Zealand and overseas. Organic export kiwifruit is already a success story, with increasing interest being shown in organic export apples and onions in recent seasons.’
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Loffler Partnership. From left, Michael, Mandy, Jenny and Richard Loffler. Image courtesy NZ Farm Environment Trust
2020 Ballance Farm Environment Awards
This year’s round of Ballance Farm Environment Awards are about to get underway with several finalists representing horticulture. The East Coast awards dinner is happening this Wednesday 4 March in Gisborne.
Mike and Mandy Loffler are finalists in the East Coast, having 320ha of sheep, beef, kiwifruit and citrus. Mike is the fourth generation on the family farm at Whangara, after taking over from his parents Richard and Jenny. Their farm comprises of a sheep and beef breeding and finishing operation, a 3.6ha gold kiwifruit orchard with 1.4ha under development, plus 1ha of lemons and 3ha of oranges.
For more event info for the Gisborne awards dinner, click here. Good luck to all contestants.
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Call for HortNZ directors 2020
This year, three grower elected Horticulture New Zealand directors will retire by rotation, and the HortNZ board is also looking to appoint a director to complement the skills, experience and knowledge of the grower directors elected by members.
Nominations are being sought from individual grower members, affiliated product groups, and affiliated grower associations for the three director vacancies. The nomination form and job description are available on the HortNZ website at the link below.
Candidates who are interested in applying for the appointed director position can find more details, including a job description at the link below.
For more information, contact Kerry Norman or call 0508 467 869.
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Bay of Plenty - PC9 withdrawal
The Region-wide Water Quantity Proposed Plan Change 9 introduced rules for water quantity, as a ‘hold the line’ approach ahead of further locally-specific plan changes.
Plan Change 9 has been withdrawn. This means the Plan Change no longer has any legal effect. Council’s decision to withdraw is due to uncertainty on the anticipated changes to national direction on freshwater management (National Policy Statement Freshwater Management).
PC9 was notified in October 2016 and a decision version notified September 2018. Horticulture New Zealand has been involved throughout the process, telling the horticulture story and promoting outcomes that enable growing.
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Central Otago - PC13 appeal
River Terrace Developments Limited (RTDL) has made an appeal to the Environment Court against the Central Otago District Council’s decision to reject plan change 13.
HortNZ has joined the appeal as an s274 party, as we strongly believe the council decision was sound. HortNZ sees little benefit in mediation or other alternative dispute resolutions given the wide divergence of views between the RTDL, the Council decision and our own position. It is therefore highly likely that the appeal will proceed to a Court hearing in the first instance in the latter half of this year.
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FSANZ Public Consultation for Australian grown horticultural produce
New Zealand growers should be aware of a consultation process that is currently happening in Australia. NZ growers can submit on the consultation at the link below.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has called for submissions to consider primary production and processing requirements to address food safety for the 5 high-risk horticultural sectors:
• ready to eat, minimally processed fruits and vegetables
• fresh leafy green vegetables
• melons
• berries
• sprouts.
The proposed standards are only applicable for the production of these products in Australia (not applicable to NZ growers). Submissions close on 18 March 2020.
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Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme
Applications for the June 2020 Kellogg Programme close on 16 March 2020.
This well-respected programme provides leadership skills, tools and applications through workshops with topic specialists and sessions with industry leaders. The course runs over six months with 17 days of programmed content delivered in three residential-based phases. This is a great opportunity for professional development for aspiring industry leaders.
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Vocational Education Reform – Horticulture briefing
When: 1- 2.30pm, Wednesday 11 March
Where: NZ Apples and Pears office, Hastings
A briefing on the Vocational Education Reform will be held next week. The meeting will cover where we need to commit as a sector; the creation of a centre of vocational excellence in the Hawkes Bay for apples; and, Transformation of the primary industry training organisation under the reforms.
Zoom video calling facilities are available – please contact Kerry Norman for the links.
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The Canterbury workshop series and Pukekohe workshop are intended to help growers to create a Farm Environment Plan, using the NZGAP Environment Management System (EMS) add-on. This environmental add-on is for growers who wish to manage their regional council’s environmental requirements alongside their usual NZGAP audit.
Click here for more information on the EMS.
Click here to register for the EMS add-on ($250 per business). |
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Canterbury Farm Environment Plan workshop 1 for fruit and vegetables
Lincoln:
When: 2 - 4pm, Tuesday 17 March
Where: Lincoln Events Centre
Ashburton:
When: 6 - 8pm, Tuesday 17 March
Where: Hotel Ashburton
Timaru:
When: 4 - 6pm, Wednesday 18 March
Where: Southern Trust Events Centre
HortNZ is offering two workshops on Farm Environment Plans (FEPs) in three locations across Canterbury, mid to late March 2020. The workshops are open to all commercial vegetable and fruit growers. The details above are for the first workshop.
Workshop 1 will cover farm mapping, and erosion and sediment control. Workshop 2 will cover nutrient and water management, biodiversity and mahinga kai. You can register for both workshops in your area in the same transaction.
Click here for full workshop info. Workshops cost $200 per business per workshop (more than one person can attend).
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Pukekohe Farm Environment Plan workshop
When: 5.30 - 8.00pm, Wednesday 25 March
Where: Pukekohe Indian Hall
This FEP workshop will focus on mapping, and erosion and sediment control. It will step you through requirements under the NZGAP Environmental Management System (EMS) add-on.
Click here for full workshop info. Workshops cost $200 per business per workshop (more than one person can attend).
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Entries open for the Pukekohe Young Grower competition
The Young Grower competition is a great opportunity for emerging fruit and vegetable growers. It will put contestants horticultural knowledge and skills to the test, and grow their leadership and professional skills along the way. To enter the Pukekohe competition, email Kiran Hari.
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MobileTECH Ag 2020 | Agritech NZ
When: 7 - 8 April 2020
Where: Rotorua
MobileTECH Ag brings together 300 technology leaders from right across the agricultural, horticultural and forestry sectors. Industry representatives, developers, early adopters and the next generation meet to find out the latest digital technologies and trends transforming the food and fibre sectors.
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Primary Industries New Zealand Summit and Awards
When: 24 - 25 June
Where: Te Papa, Wellington
Awards nomination deadline: 30 March
Shine a spotlight on the important role the primary sector plays in the economy and honour the most successful and innovative primary industries’ producers, supporters. Awards are open to individuals, teams and companies from any producer groups working within the NZ primary sector or in support of the primary sector and will identify the most successful and innovative primary sector operators.
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Horticulture Conference 2020
The 2020 Horticulture Conference will be at Mystery Creek on 29-31 July. To receive a sponsorship prospectus, email Amy Miller. More details to be announced soon.
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