20th April 2026 // Rural News in partnership with Farmlands

NZ-India trade deal locked in  Research gives cows fertility boost Growers face seasonal worker shake-up   Rural News is in partnership with Farmlands as part of CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp - our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch / listen.   NZ-India trade deal locked in  New Zealand and India will sign their Free Trade Agreement in New Delhi on the twenty-seventh of April, with Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay confirming legal verification is now complete. From day one, almost fifty-seven percent of exports including lamb, wool, and most forestry products enter duty-free. That figure rises to eighty-two percent when fully implemented, bringing in infant formula, a kiwifruit quota nearly four times current export levels, and seafood. McClay says a Most Favoured Nation clause also protects wine and services exporters, potentially worth tens of millions of dollars in additional trade. However, Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the Government is playing politics with trade policy, warning that signing without majority parliamentary support would be recklessly irresponsible. Hipkins says Labour wants to ensure the deal does not leave New Zealand worse off. Following signing, the full agreement will be tabled in Parliament and referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee for public scrutiny.   Research gives cows fertility boost New research is giving New Zealand dairy farmers better tools to boost herd fertility — and the flow-on benefits reach well beyond the mating season. The Resilient Dairy Programme, a primary growth partnership between DairyNZ, breeding company LIC, and the Ministry for Primary Industries, is focusing on genetic innovation and health diagnostics to support more productive, resilient herds. Research shows cows with higher fertility breeding values cycle sooner, conceive more reliably, and stay productive longer. Two priority areas are now leading the way — pregnancy diagnosis and measuring the time from calving to first heat using wearable technology. DairyNZ senior scientist Dr Susanne Meier says both measures are influenced by genetics, can be recorded accurately at scale, and fit existing farm systems — meaning valuable new traits can reach farmers faster.   Growers face seasonal worker shake-up New Zealand's horticulture and viticulture sectors could face significant changes to how they recruit and manage Pacific seasonal workers, following a new international report calling for reform of the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme. The International Labour Organization report recommends employers take on a greater share of worker costs — including transport, accommodation, and set-up expenses — raising questions about what that means for growers already managing tight margins. The report warns workers are vulnerable, unlikely to raise complaints due to fears of blacklisting, and lose their right to stay in New Zealand if dismissed from employment.  The government says its review of the RSE scheme will weigh the recommendations alongside the views of employers and Pacific partners.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.