Blue Shed Diary

Each year, young fruit and vegetable growers from around the country compete for the title of Young Grower of the Year.

The competitors are drawn from the winners of the seven regional competitions. This September, after a series of tough challenges, Phoebe Scherer was crowned the 2025 winner.

Working full-time at Apata as Technical Lab Manager, and winning the Bay of Plenty regional competition, she won the national title.

Joining the conversation is Phoebe Scherer.

Horticulture is a major part of our primary sector. With over 4,000 growers and industry value of over $7.5B, the fruits and vegetables we grow in New Zealand are enjoyed here and around the world. But like the rest of the primary industry, growers face challenges bringing their product tomarket.

Joining the conversation is Kate Scott, Horticulture New Zealand CEO who is helping our growers negotiate these challenges.

What happens when one of the tools farmers and growers use to fight pests and disease are removed from the toolbox? Recently, EPA announced they are banning the insecticide Chlorpyrifos because its harm outweighs its benefits. It's used to combat grass grubs, among other pests, but what options do farmers and growers have now?

Joining the conversation to answer that question is PGG Wrightson Technical Specialist for Agronomy Joseph Watts.

To celebrate Biosecurity Awareness Month, Blue Shed Diary is talking to the people charged with keeping New Zealand safe from pests and disease. Agrichemicals are one of the tools in the tool chest, but what happens when one of those tools is gone? What goes into that decision? And how do we get new tools in our toolboxes?

Joining the conversation is Dr Shaun Presow of the Environmental Protection Authority. He is the Manager of Reassessments and Acting Manager of Hazardous Substances Applications.

August is Biosecurity Awareness month, and who better to speak to the Ministry at the coal face of protecting New Zealand from incursions of pests and disease - Ministry for Primary Industries.

Joining the conversation is Stuart Anderson, Deputy Director-General Biosecurity New Zealand at MPI.

To celebrate Biosecurity Awareness Month in August, we talk to the organisation tasked to help businesses take a proactive approach to biosecurity.

Joining the conversation is Debbie Teale, Executive Director of the Biosecurity Business Pledge.

Plus, visit bbpledge.nz for important free tools to help you play your part in protecting New Zealand.

Last week, President Trump announced the export tariff on New Zealand goods into America will rise from 10 to 15%. The Government's not happy, neither are exporters but what can be done?

Blue Shed Diary has a special conversation with Felicity Roxburgh - the new Executive Director of New Zealand International Business Forum - the organisation representing New Zealand's export, manufacturing, and services sectors.

Calves are now on-farm and calf rearers are putting in the hard yards to raise strong, healthy calves. Nutritional advice is often first and foremost, but there are other factors at play that should not be ignored.

Joining the conversation is PGG Wrightson Technical Expert for Animal Production Jo Harris with tech tips to support strong growth.

Joining the conversation:

PGG Wrightson's Technical Field Representative Ben Chambers was PGW's Academy Dux in 2024. What role does the Academy play in training New Zealand's future agriculture leaders?

The Primary Industry is one of New Zealand's best performing sector in our current economy. What is behind the success of our farmers and growers? How can they protect themselves in the wake of global instability?

Joining the conversation: Chief Economist Cameron Bagrie of Bagrie Economics walks us through New Zealand's two economies.