The agricultural sector is facing a crisis, with forecasts for registering innovative animal and crop health products hitting an all-time low. A decade ago, we were world leaders in pioneering innovation. Now forecasts say it… Read more >
Our wish list underscores the need for government support, innovation, and strategic partnerships. Supporting all New Zealanders This is an enduring focus for us through our purpose of ensuring healthy crops and animals safeguard our… Read more >
Dr Liz Shackleton shares her thoughts on her new role as Chief Executive of Animal and Plant Health NZ. Innovative solutions crucial for managing pests and diseases New Zealand is grappling with weather changes and… Read more >
New Zealand agriculture continues to lead the way in its approach to antimicrobial resistance- one of the top ten global threats to human health. Agriculture remains ahead of the game in the use of antibiotics,… Read more >
Sheep, beef and dairy farmers may need to rethink their drenching strategies amid novel drench supply issues over the next six months. New Zealand’s manufacturers of these innovative products are warning their customers that supplies… Read more >
Dr Liz Shackleton has been appointed Chief Executive of Animal and Plant Health New Zealand effective from 30 October 2023. Her wealth of strategic leadership experience in agriculture, animal health and biosecurity, across public and private sectors, will… Read more >
Without farm inputs, one-fifth of the Wairarapa farm where scholarship winner Tegan Mitchell was raised would have been rendered ineffective after Cyclone Gabrielle hit. Heading into winter, Kotu Station – a 1400 ha sheep and… Read more >
Animal and Plant Health NZ scholarship winner Lucy Mossman’s decision to become a rural vet came as an epiphany after chasing other careers. Raised on a sheep and beef farm in Waerenga-O-Kuri, Gisborne, the Massey… Read more >
28 July 2023 It’s great to be hosting the FIFA World Cup in NZ! Have you thought about what it takes to manage the ground on which these wonderful women pull off their fancy footwork?… Read more >
New Zealand has a global reputation for high safety standards and good agricultural practices in food production. Treating animals and plants for pests and diseases helps prevent foodborne risks to people. Continuous monitoring of our… Read more >
Animal diseases are associated with significant increases in livestock greenhouse gas emissions and land use, and reduced productivity. In addition, they pose a threat to food security. Animals suffer from various diseases, some of which… Read more >
A survey by Landcare Research estimates that 6.4 percent of bee colonies are lost due to the Varroa Destructor mite, demonstrating that its destructive effects are escalating. The annual survey attributed nearly half of all… Read more >
Innovative solutions by our blue economy industries could be key to finding a sustainable path forward in a warming world, says Cawthron Institute Chief Executive Volker Kuntzsch. In his address to the recent Animal and… Read more >
Animal and Plant Health NZ has appointed Jo-Anne Stokes as Technical Adviser – Crop Protection to help its members tackle the hurdles associated with bringing innovative solutions to New Zealand to manage pests and diseases.… Read more >
With almost every region and market affected by unprecedented challenges, times are tough for the rural sector, says Animal and Plant Health NZ President Gavin Kerr. “It’s quite scary, and the rest of 2023 doesn’t… Read more >
Young, bright, passionate all-round high achievers are a few chosen words to describe the horticulture and agriculture scholarship winners we’ve celebrated over the years. The calibre of young people we’ve met through our long-running programme has been… Read more >
Pet numbers are on an upward trend due to the many benefits they offer their owners, including emotional support, reducing feelings of stress and loneliness, and increasing social contact. In return, pets need and deserve… Read more >
Food and pasture growers as well as the forestry industry rely on glyphosate to prevent deep-rooted weeds from taking over their crops and decimating productivity, according to a report by the NZIER on the benefits… Read more >
As producers of safe and healthy food, which is competitive on the global stage, New Zealand farmers and growers must be able to access the latest innovative technologies to control damaging pests and diseases. Without… Read more >
With a background in agrichemical regulation and a knack for tapping into valuable government and industry intelligence to benefit members, Rebecca Fisher is a worthy recipient of the 2022 Animal and Plant Health NZ Outstanding… Read more >
Leading the discussion, challenging the status quo and providing innovative solutions comes naturally to Rafael Barbieri, Country Registration Manager for BASF, Animal and Plant Health NZ member and winner of our inaugural Emerging Leader Award.… Read more >
Vaccination vastly improves the health of both people and animals and is vital for continuing to meet the health challenges of growing populations. Vaccinating animals protects them from life-threatening diseases such as distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus… Read more >
Scholarship recipient 25 July 2022 Despite experiencing the PSA outbreak first-hand growing up, Animal and Plant Health scholarship winner Sarah Wilson says deciding to study agribusiness was the best decision of her life. The 19… Read more >
Scholarship winner, 21 July 2022 Born and bred on a sheep (Romney stud) and beef farm in the rural town of Taihape, Animal and Plant Health NZ veterinary scholarship winner Sarah Fannin only imagines a… Read more >
Animal and plant health industry association name change The industry association representing more than 90 percent of New Zealand’s crop protection and animal health industries has a new name. Animal and Plant Health New Zealand… Read more >
Is food set to be a luxury of the wealthy? This is the question that resounds from reviewing the agricultural policies that Europe is seeking to adopt – policies that will have major implications for… Read more >
New Zealand’s two associations representing the crop protection and animal health industries will merge this month, with a name change to follow in July. Agcarm (formerly known as the Agricultural Chemical and Animal Remedy Manufacturers’… Read more >
Farmers, growers, and pet owners require ways to control pests. Naturally occurring compounds or natural extracts have been used as pesticides since ancient times. The earliest pesticides were most likely salt, sulfurous rock, and extracts… Read more >
The parasitic mite Varroa destructor is a severe threat to New Zealand’s honey bees. Since the mite appeared on our shores twenty years ago, affected bees have not been able to survive without human intervention.… Read more >
Only health, aged care, corrections and border workers will be required to be vaccinated and wear marks. Free masks and rapid antigen tests are available from testing sites and collection points. Increased access to antiviral… Read more >
Joint media release from Agcarm and NOAH The animal health associations in the UK (NOAH) and New Zealand (Agcarm) have welcomed the publication by the countries’ regulatory agencies of guidance that will enable simultaneous review… Read more >
What is a residue? A residue is a very small trace of an agricultural compound, such as a pesticide, that remains on a crop or in animal products. How much is in our food? Many… Read more >
As a leader of sustainable food production, the agrichemical industry will continue to collaborate with the government to safely manage agrichemicals in the environment, following a report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon… Read more >
The Sri Lankan government is bailing out its farmers and being blamed for a food crisis, due to a ban of agrichemicals and chemical fertilisers. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa introduced the ban in May 2021 to… Read more >
Glyphosate is used in New Zealand by farmers, councils and home gardeners. It has recorded more than 40 years of safe use and has been the subject of over 800 studies, all of which have… Read more >
The facts Despite claims that particular types of seed treatments (neonicotinoids) are harmful to bees, there is no evidence that neonicotinoids have harmed bees in New Zealand. Neonicotinoids have been used safely across millions of… Read more >
The crop protection industry exists and thrives because it is the only way growers and farmers can reasonably be certain of a harvest. This is due to two main factors. Firstly, plants, like all living… Read more >
A nation of intense manufacturing activities combined with ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions has forced China to make drastic policy changes, resulting in strict measures to control energy supply. The global market will be… Read more >
The dairy industry is New Zealand’s largest exporter and its growth has accelerated dramatically over the past three decades. A productive, healthy and efficient stock is vital to preserving these gains and enhancing sustainability in… Read more >
A pest is an animal or tiny organism that causes harm to humans, animals, food, or living conditions. Pests are damaging because they attack and eat vegetables and other crops, cause and spread disease, or… Read more >
Ensuring we play our part to reduce antimicrobial resistance contributes to a One Health approach that recognises the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and the environment.
Food and pasture growers as well as the forestry industry rely on glyphosate to prevent deep-rooted weeds from taking over their crops and decimating productivity, according to a report by the NZIER on the benefits… Read more >
Disease and pest free animals and crops rely on agrichemical use. Pesticides, detergents and sanitisers are a critical component of New Zealand’s $48 billion agricultural sector. The recently released and updated ‘NZS 8409:2021 Management of… Read more >
Pesticide resistance is a serious challenge for the farming sector – decreasing its ability to manage pests and diseases such as Blackspot (apples), powdery mildew (a fungal disease affecting a wide range of plants), diamond… Read more >
The animal health industry should be applauded for its contribution to New Zealand farms, vets, animals, and people. An inaugural report on its value by KPMG and Agcarm underscores an underappreciated industry that’s punching above… Read more >
The European Green Deal has admirable goals for a more sustainable future at no cost to the consumer, but a realistic lack of alternatives to conventional farming and uncertainty about what technology can be used… Read more >
The supply of veterinary medicines and pesticides is secure for the 2021-22 season, but farmers and growers may not find their favourite brand on the shelf. An alternative will be available if the usual choice… Read more >
When it comes to the food we eat, most people will agree that it is essential, that it must be safe and should sustain the environment. But when it comes to how it’s produced, views… Read more >
Scholarship winner 22 June 2021 Agricultural scholarship winner Olivia Buick loves all things ag, be it the serenity of driving a tractor in the central high country, the fascination for how soil, science and the… Read more >
16 June 2021 Working more than 12 hour shifts outdoors in bitter Northern winter temperatures of minus -45oC degrees, would send most school leavers shuddering under their duvets, but not Agcarm’s most recent scholarship winner,… Read more >
Update of Veterinary Medicine Adverse Event Guidance Documents & Reporting Form 25 May 2021
Proposed new controls for the use of Brodifacoum containing products 18 May 2021
Glyphosate use in Europe has resulted in reassessments, reviews and bans in some countries, causing a backlash by farmers. The controversial herbicide is touted by NZ Professor of Toxicology Ian Shaw as a victim of… Read more >
The obstacles New Zealand farmers and growers navigate pale in comparison to the challenges of their Asian counterparts. The region remains home to the highest number of hungry and undernourished people, with farmers facing increasing… Read more >
Another campaign on farmers and beekeepers working together to Bee Responsible – launched with Apiculture NZ. Bee responsible brochure Bee responsible poster
As we struggle to fathom how we ended up in the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic, we’re reminded of the importance of vaccinations to protect us from life-threatening diseases. The same applies to animals –… Read more >
East Pier Hotel 50 Nelson Quay, Ahuriri Napier 9.20am, Thursday 25 February 2021 Before I start, I want to take a moment to acknowledge how privileged we are to be here at the summer conference… Read more >
New Zealand is hitting the mark in providing the world with high quality and safe food. Agcarm supports recent government proposals to boost this vital sector but warns of inefficiencies in the political system to… Read more >
The industry association for crop protection and animal health manufacturers and distributors has appointed Jeff Howe as its technical manager. Jeff Howe replaces Jan Quay, after a seventeen-year tenure, as Agcarm’s animal health expert. As… Read more >
Bees are an essential component of a strong agricultural sector. They support New Zealand’s $6 billion horticultural industry by pollinating food crops as well as producing a multitude of honey-based products. Despite recent reports of… Read more >
Agcarm calls on the government to introduce managed risk to legislation. Its chief executive Mark Ross says that the rural sector faces many, and often conflicting, demands. “Our farmers and growers are faced with the… Read more >
Farmers and growers can rest assured that agrichemicals are in strong supply for the 2020 to 2021 season, even as we move between Covid-19 alert levels. The need for animal medicines and pesticides to keep… Read more >
Agrichemical manufacturers back the government’s mandate to take environmental responsibility for their products at the end of their useful life. Agcarm members support the government’s moves to place the onus on them to ensure that… Read more >
The industry association for crop protection and animal health manufacturers and distributors has appointed Gavin Kerr, Country Manager for agrichemical company Nufarm, as its president at the Agcarm annual meeting on July 23. Kerr says… Read more >
The Government launched a bold plan to boost primary sector export earnings by $44 billion over the next decade while protecting the environment and growing jobs. The plan, launched last month, involves a 10-year roadmap… Read more >
Massey University veterinary science student Kate Poole’s drive to help evolve New Zealand’s production animal systems has been rewarded with a $2,500 scholarship from Agcarm. Growing up on a sheep and beef farm in Tararua,… Read more >
Today there are 800 million undernourished people in the world, yet the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that one-third of the world’s food is either lost or wasted. The New Zealand government’s recent… Read more >
Hort scholarship winner 2020 3 June 2020 The journey of New Zealand’s high quality nutritious food from farmer to fork is what drives Agcarm’s horticultural scholarship winner, Alexandra Tomkins in her goal to be a… Read more >
A survey released today confirms that the Kiwi diet is safe and that any pesticide residues on food are extremely low, far below recommended safety levels. The Ministry for Primary Industries released results of the… Read more >
The New Zealand public can be assured that the supply of healthy food is secure – aided by farmers, growers and vets having the supplies of animal medicine and crop protection products that they need.… Read more >
The animal medicines and crop protection lobby group Agcarm applauds the government’s efforts to protect the health of New Zealanders in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, buts asks that support is extended to the… Read more >
Are you eating enough fruits and vegetables to stay healthy? If your diet is like most New Zealanders, the answer is probably ‘no’. Even though fruits and vegetables are rich in the nutrients that our… Read more >
From weeding and spraying crops to taking care of cattle, digital technology is making its mark on agriculture. Self-driven vehicles are picking and grading fruit as well as detecting and pollinating flowers. Now the latest… Read more >
What was the last thing you ate? Do you know where it came from, or the journey it took to get to your plate? When consuming a meal, or creating one, we often think of… Read more >
The common goal of protecting New Zealand’s native species brought together Iwi, the crop protection industry and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to safeguard native plants and animals. Māori, industry groups, regulators, and the crop… Read more >
The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research released a landmark report, showing that New Zealand’s economy would lose up to $11.4 billion without crop protection products – and that crops would lose 30 percent of… Read more >
The peak association that represents New Zealand’s animal medicine and crop protection industries welcomes the National party’s new biotech policy. Agcarm chief executive Mark Ross says that updating New Zealand’s biotechnology regulations to embrace the… Read more >
Glyphosate is used in New Zealand by farmers, councils and home gardeners. It has recorded more than 40 years of safe use and has been the subject of over 800 studies, all of which have… Read more >
There is a wealth of evidence proving what dog owners already know – our pets are good for us. Dogs have a proven effect on stress and anxiety, and studies have concluded that dog owners… Read more >
Pic Picot of Pics Peanut Butter, who recently spoke at the Agcarm Conference shares a few words about his dog, in recognition of International Dog Day on August 26. “I have the privilege of owning… Read more >
Government initiatives to put the onus on manufacturers for ensuring that their products can be recycled or disposed of safely is a step in the right direction for New Zealand’s environmental outcomes. A voluntary product… Read more >
There is a wealth of evidence proving what many of us already know – our pets are good for us. Studies show that pet owners have lower blood pressure, cholesterol and allergy levels. Pets can… Read more >
A landmark report reveals that without crop protection products, New Zealand’s economy would lose between $7.5 to $11.4 billion. The New Zealand Institute of Economic Development recently released the report, ‘The Importance of Crop Protection… Read more >
The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research today released a landmark report, showing that New Zealand’s economy would lose up to $11.4 billion without crop protection products – and that crops would lose 30 percent of… Read more >
For millions of families in the developing world, farming is not just an occupation – it is their sole means of survival. Smallholder farmers grow several crops on small plots of land to support their… Read more >
Forget the car, the swanky holiday or the latest iPhone. An Ashburton student, who’s just won a $2,500 scholarship from industry association Agcarm, has more practical uses for the cash. Imogen Redpath will use her… Read more >
New Zealand is a low user of antimicrobials in animals, but needs to join intensive efforts required to overcome resistance to these vital medicines. Resistance is not only a human health issue. Antimicrobials are used… Read more >
Bees have a vital role to play in food production and agriculture. They are extremely good pollinators of crops and contribute substantially to New Zealand’s multi-billion dollar agricultural economy. Pollination is essential for plants to… Read more >
