One of the first large-scale commercial avocado orchards to be planted in New Zealand - as part of a multi-national growing consortium - has been placed on the market for sale.

Three Plant & Food Research innovations and scientists are amongst the 12 stunning finalists selected for the fifth annual KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards, which celebrate impact from science through successful research commercialisation within New Zealand’s universities and Crown Research Institutes.

It’s been a positive start to 2018 for the global beef sector - with production and consumption up and prices generally favourable - however, building pressures in some of the world’s major beef-producing nations have the potential to change export market dynamics, with implications for New Zealand, according to a recently-released industry report.

A RadioNZ Analysis on the Mbovis situation - Everyone's been playing catch-up since the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak - and everyone's blamed each other.

In light of the continuing labour shortage in the kiwifruit industry, the Social Development Minister says the government will raise the amount that beneficiaries can earn without their dole being cut.

Hawke's Bay's contribution to the world's ‘most competitive’ apple industry is set to grow, with more than 100,000 new plantings at just one Hastings orchard alone.

The Government plans to eradicate mycoplasma bovis over 10 years, but will start by allowing mass stock movements from Friday that rely on a discredited tracking system, Thomas Coughlan reports for Newsroom.

"  Rural Media is going through challenging times, right when they need it least according to Mediawatch.  Several titles are soon to be discontinued including NZFarmer which has been delivered free to rural letterboxes every Friday, others have changed hands with one commentator telling Mediawatch  "The most important thing is that the rural media is owned by people who understand the rural scene".  Makes sense.

Leading fresh fruit importer IG International has entered into an association with Mr Apple, a major global apple exporter from New Zealand, to launch DIVA, a premium variety of apples into the Indian subcontinent.

Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash says the creation of a new specialist organisation dedicated to the sector will lead to greater innovation in the way we fish and the way we manage the resource.