AgFirst NZ

🍎 A practical look at chemical thinning

AgFirst NZ consultants Jonathan Brookes and Jack Wilson share their experience and insights on chemical thinning in this Future Orchards® 2026 winter series video.

🎥 Watch the video below to hear from Jonathan and Jack.

Optimising chemical thinning – less magic art, more science Jonathan Brookes and Jack Wilson, AgFirstChemical thinning can be...

🏆 Podium finish for AgFirst Waikato! 🚴‍♂️

A strong showing from our AgFirst Waikato cycling team at the Tuatahi Team Challenge over the weekend, taking out silver in the men’s division.

The team showed improvement with every race and put in a fantastic effort from start to finish. 💪

Well done team – a great result! 👏

🚴‍♀️ As we head into the weekend, we’d like to wish our AgFirst Waikato athletes all the best for tomorrow’s Tuatahi Team Challenge!

The annual pilgrimage to the Grassroots Trust Velodrome is on, with plenty of pedalling, teamwork and friendly competition ahead. 💪🚴

Good luck team! 🏁

🥓🍳☕🧁 BRUNCH ON US! 💚

Rural life doesn’t stop — but sometimes it’s important to.

📅 This September, the Southland Rural Support Trust is inviting farmers, growers, contractors, rural workers and rural communities to take a well-earned break and join us for a FREE brunch, a yarn and good company with people who understand rural life.

No speeches. No sales pitches. No pressure. Just good food, a warm welcome and a chance to pause, reconnect and check in with each other.

🕥 11:00am – 1:30pm
📍 Locations & dates below
🙌 No registration required — just turn up!

🚙Bring your partner, neighbour, farm team or that mate who keeps saying “Yeah, I’m good” — but might appreciate getting off the job for a couple of hours. Because sometimes, a good feed and a good yarn can make all the difference. 💚

🤝 Everyone is welcome. Come along, grab some kai and stay for a yarn.

🔊Shout out to those who are helping these events happen - FMG, ASB Bank, Farm Source Otago/Southland, Fonterra, Beef + Lamb New Zealand Southern South Island, Westpac NZ, Advance Agriculture Ltd, DairyNZ, Ministry for Primary Industries On Farm Support, LIC, Rural Women New Zealand, Nedap Livestock, Open Country, AgFirst NZ and Mataura Valley Milk.

👇 Check out the locations and dates below.

🌱 The AgFirst Horticulture team is underway with trials for the new growing season. 🍑

This stonefruit trial is evaluating a new product designed to give growers more tools and options for managing critical crop stages🔬🌿

BRUNCH ON US 🥓🍳☕ LOCATIONS & DATES

Rural life doesn’t stop. So this month and next, we are inviting farmers, growers, contractors and rural communities to take a well-earned break. Come along for a FREE brunch, a yarn and good company with people who understand rural life.

No speeches. No sales pitches. No pressure. Just a warm welcome, great food and a chance to pause, reconnect and check in with each other.

🕥 10:30am – 12:30pm
📍 No registration required, just turn up!

ALL WELCOME, bring your partner, neighbour, farm team, or that mate who keeps saying “Yeah, I’m good” but might appreciate getting off the job for a couple of hours.

📅 BRUNCH ON US - LOCATIONS & DATES:

Gordonton - Tuesday 25 August
Gordonton Hall

Aka Aka - Wednesday 26 August
Aka Aka School Hall

Ngatea - Thursday 27 August
Ngatea Rugby Clubrooms

Onewhero - Friday 28 August
Onewhero Rugby Club

Tatuanui - Tuesday 1 September
Tatuanui War Memorial Hall

Waihi Beach - Tuesday 1 September
Waihi Beach Surf Club

Mangatangi - Wednesday 2 September
Mangatangi Hall

Pollok - Thursday 3 September
Pollok Community Hall

Otorohanga - Friday 4 September
Kio Kio Community Hall

Te Awamutu - Tuesday 8 September
Te Rahu Hall

Putaruru - Wednesday 9 September
NZ Timber Museum

Piopio - Thursday 10 September
Piopio Aria Golf Club

Reporoa - Friday 11 September
Reporoa Rugby Clubrooms

Tirohanga - Tuesday 15 September
Tirohanga Settlers Hall

Ngakuru - Wednesday 16 September
Ngakuru Hall

Matamata - Thursday 17 September
Hinuera Rugby Club

Tokoroa - Friday 18 September
Southern United Rugby Club

For more information: [email protected]

Proudly supported by: Fonterra, Farm Source, Beef and Lamb New Zealand, NZ SURE, Primary ITO, OFI, Farmline Machinery, Open Country, Kaimai Eggs, FMG, Matamata Butchery Limited, BYL Livestock, DairyNZ, Tatua Dairy Co., Power Farming New Zealand, On Farm Support - Ministry for Primary Industries , Mangatangi & Maramarua Catchment.

WE ARE RURAL SUPPORT, TOGETHER 💚

🔐 Is your farm data protected?

AI offers exciting opportunities for agriculture - but it also raises questions about security, access and ownership.

In this Country-Wide podcast, AgFirst CEO James Allen shares practical ways to protect farm data while making the most of AI.

Four key things to consider:
✅ Use a paid AI subscription with stronger security.
✅ Know where your backups are stored.
✅ Protect valuable farm knowledge when managers move on.
✅ Be transparent about how AI is being used.

🎧 Listen here: https://country-wide.co.nz/how-is-data-governance-in-ai-applied-at-farm-level/