Potatoes Conference – Last chance to register
GET IN QUICK!
Why You Need to Attend the Potato Conference 2025
- Grower focused — every session tailored with real world challenges and market demands.
- Latest insights — hear directly from leading experts – consumer research, latest tech, and innovators.
- On farm efficiencies — discover hands on tools and process to cut costs and improve efficiencies.
- Future proof your business — adapt to change and stay ahead of market pressures.
- One stop networking — connect with peers and partners in one place.
- Real talk, real solutions — share experiences and learn from others facing the same challenges.
Join us for an unmissable day – entirely with your needs in mind.
August is often a month of transition: from winter maintenance to spring readiness.
At Potatoes New Zealand, our work continues behind the scenes on the Potatoes Conference.
HAVE YOU GOT YOUR TICKETS YET?
It is the last chance to register, so get in quick.
Remember, whether you’re in the paddock, packing shed, or planning your next crop rotation — Potatoes New Zealand is here to support you.
WEBINAR: Optimising Nutrition: From Soil Text to Application
Join an informative webinar designed for potato growers and agronomists wanting to sharpen their understanding of crop nutrition. 21 August | 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Potatoes New Zealand is working together with PotatoLink to make this webinar available.
The session will walk through the fundamentals of nutrient management in potatoes — from interpreting soil tests to understanding crop uptake curves — helping you make better-informed decisions that optimise crop performance and reduce input waste.
WEBINAR Recording: Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP) / Liberibacter Seminar – Watch Now!
Potatoes New Zealand, Tomatoes New Zealand and Te Ahikawariki collaborated for a Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP) Seminar to update growers and industry professionals on the latest research findings.
Part 1 – Frances MacDonald >>
Part 2 – Jessica Vereijssen >>
Part 3 – Lex Dillon >>
Part 4 – Roger Blyth >>
WEBINAR Recording: Grow Your Cyber Resilience – Watch Now!
Grow your cyber resilience – Protect Yourself and Your Business in a Digital World
Gain expert advice, real-world examples, and practical steps to protect yourself, your devices, and your livelihood from cyber attacks.
Solar on farm programme
Helping farmers and growers unlock cost savings and energy resilience with solar. Solar, battery storage, and flexible energy systems are practical options for powering New Zealand’s farms.
Solar on farms can help cut costs, build resilience, and even provide a new income stream through selling excess power back to the grid.
New support coming soon to help farmers make informed choices, EECA is developing a comprehensive support package under its Solar on Farms initiative. Designed in collaboration with farmers, sector bodies, and technical experts, the package will include:
- Simple tools to work out costs, savings, and trusted installers
- Real-life demos and examples from different farm types
- Clear energy data so farmers can see how systems perform
- Help with consents and working with power companies
- Easier access to finance through a new partnership
- Direct support to guide next steps
Get involved or stay informed
EECA are building this in collaboration with farmers and growers, for farmers – and are keen for input. Contact the team at fbyne@rrpn.tbig.am or via their website www.eeca.govt.nz
Three Day Soil Health Masterclass with Nicole Masters
Helping farmers and growers unlock cost savings and energy resilience with solar. Solar, battery storage, and flexible energy systems are practical options for powering New Zealand’s farms.
Solar on farms can help cut costs, build resilience, and even provide a new income stream through selling excess power back to the grid.
It will cover pest-disease management; optimising nutrient, water and carbon cycles, overcoming drags on performance, and making your own action plan.
When | 19-21 August
Where | Narrows Landing, 431 Airport Road, RD2 Tamahere, Hamilton
Field sessions hosted by Whitehall Fruitpackers and orchard manager, Levi Belcher.
2026 Nutfield New Zealand Farming Scholarships are Open
Nuffield New Zealand are looking for their next Farming Scholars – those grounded, innovative rural leaders who are ready to grow both personally and professionally.
As a Nuffield Scholar you’ll join a group of motivated individuals who lead by example, drive change, and strive to give back to their community, industry and sector. A Nuffield Scholarship is designed to develop your global view by opening doors to some of the world’s most innovative thinkers and businesses.
Critical thinkers are needed to be able to create positive change in industries across the food and fibre sector. Applications close Thursday, 17 August 2025.
Horticulture sector braced for serious fee threat
Horticultural industry players say New Zealand’s competitiveness in the global fruit and produce sector is seriously threatened by the government’s proposed increases in plant variety rights fees.
Administered by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE), plant variety rights (PVRs) grant plant breeders exclusive control over the commercial propagation of a new plant cultivar they have created or imported.
Estimates are the rights bring over $3 billion of economic benefit a year through PVR protected plants delivering higher economic benefit and value to their sector.
But the industry is now facing the prospect of fee increases that could quadruple the annual fee paid to have the PVR protection.
Young Grower of the Year
The search for New Zealand’s top young grower is heating up, with the highly anticipated Young Grower of the Year National Final in September.
This competition showcases the talent, knowledge, and leadership potential of the next generation in horticulture. Across the country, young growers have been stepping up to demonstrate their skills in everything from practical growing tasks to innovation, business acumen, and public speaking.
Let’s get behind these passionate young professionals and cheer them on as they grow their careers – and our industry.
National Final: 10-11 September
Scholarships to Support Future On Farm Advisers
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) runs a scholarship programme for tertiary students to help increase the number of on-farm advisers.
The On Farm Support Science Scholarships were launched in 2023 and are worth $5,000 each.
Six scholarships are on offer for the 2026 academic year. Applications opened on 31 July and close on 15 September 2025.
Understanding Canterbury Consenting and Compliance Costs – Help needed
Environment Canterbury has asked Horticulture New Zealand to assist them in understanding consenting and compliance costs and other challenges faced by growers. Horticulture New Zealand is interviewing growers in August to assist Environment Canterbury, and to advocate for simpler and less costly consenting and compliance in the future.
Please contact Charlotte Wright, Senior Policy Advisor based in Canterbury on 021 986 783 to have a chat or puneybggr.jevtug@ubegam.pb.am
Safe Farming: Driving in Wet Conditions
It is important to take into account how the wet and slippery conditions will affect farm tracks and roads. There have been multiple reported incidents on various farms where vehicles have lost traction on slippery slopes. These incidents highlight the risks in operating farm vehicles in changing weather conditions, without taking into account the effect of ground conditions on control of vehicles.
Farmstrong Toolbox Tips – Injury Prevention
Listen to farmers talk about why looking after your wellbeing is important in preventing injuries on the farm.
Practical tips to reduce the risk of common injuries, whether you’re on the tools, in the paddock, or around heavy equipment. Let’s work smarter and stay safer, every day.
Share your story and help others with Farmstrong
Share your story and help others with Farmstrong
Looking after our mental health, especially managing stress and building resilience is key to navigating the daily challenges of life on the land.
If you have a story that could inspire or support others, Farmstrong is creating a special book focused on horticulture, sharing real stories from growers, for growers.
If you’re keen to contribute, please get in touch with a Potatoes New Zealand team member, and we’ll connect you with the Farmstrong team. Your experience could make a real difference
Events
Horticulture Conference 2025
Registrations open for the 2025 Horticulture Conference and RSE Conference.
Held in Wellington on 26-27 August – Save the date now so you are ready for when tickets open!
Find out more and register >>
View the events calendar
Find out about the horticulture industry events and activities that are currently happening.
NIWA National Weather Outlook
NIWA outlook for rain
NIWA outlook for dryness/drought
NIWA seasonal forecast for next 3 months
