The AgriBusiness Group

26/02/2026

08/09/2025

⚠️ Important Update for NZ Farmers on RMA Changes
Confused by the recent changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA)? Here's the critical update: Fines for RMA breaches are now uninsurable.
This could directly exposes your farming business to the full financial risk around these fines.

To protect your operation, we recommend these four key steps:
✅ Review Your Insurance: Contact your provider now. Confirm you still have cover for legal defence and remediation costs and ask the question do I still need fines cover.
✅ Nail Your Compliance: Understand your consents and ensure your on-farm practices are fully compliant.
✅ Brief Your Team: Make sure everyone on your team understands the risks and how to manage them.
✅ Seek Expert Advice: Don't leave it to chance.

Navigating compliance can be complex. The AgriBusiness Group's consultants are here to help you understand these changes and safeguard your business.
🔗 Contact us today for a confidential discussion! https://www.agribusinessgroup.com/our-team-mojave

02/09/2025

Sustainable Farming in Canterbury: Real Progress on the Ground

Farmers across Canterbury are making practical changes to ensure their operations remain viable and environmentally sustainable for the long term. Improvements in areas such as water use efficiency, nutrient management, irrigation systems, and riparian plantings show a clear shift in practice. These efforts aren’t just reactive- they reflect a broader commitment to farming in a way that supports both productivity and environmental health.

A key part of this progress is the increased focus on riparian planting. Establishing native trees and shrubs along waterways helps stabilise stream banks, filter contaminants, reduce sediment runoff, and enhance freshwater ecosystems. These buffer zones improve water quality and provide habitat for native species, contributing to overall landscape resilience.

Funding support from government and community programmes enables farmers to implement these changes more widely, providing resources for fencing, planting, and ongoing maintenance. This backing is helping turn environmental plans into on the ground action, accelerating positive outcomes for Canterbury’s waterways and farms.

07/08/2025

Balancing Profit and Planet: Sustainable Farming with The AgriBusiness Group

Achieving strong environmental outcomes while maintaining a profitable and resilient farming operation is one of the biggest challenges facing today’s landowners. It’s a balancing act, reducing environmental impact while ensuring that your farm remains economically viable for the long term.

At The AgriBusiness Group, we understand that sustainability isn’t just about meeting compliance standards. It’s about integrating sound environmental practices that are practical within your farm system while supporting productivity, profitability, and long-term land stewardship. With expertise in both environmental and agricultural economics, our team helps farmers, agribusinesses, and industry bodies design strategies that work, on paper and on the ground. Whether you're facing freshwater regulations, upgrading infrastructure, or looking to invest in more efficient systems, we can support you with the insights and tools to make it sustainable, financially and environmentally!

Let us help you find the right balance. Get in touch to explore how we can support your journey to a more sustainable and profitable farming future.

08/07/2025

We're looking to welcome the next valuable addition to our team!

Make your mark in agri-environmental consulting. Lead projects, drive growth, and mentor our team.

04/07/2025

GMP Vs Risk Based Approach
Many of you will be familiar with GMP (Good Management Practice) – the benchmark for FEP (Farm Environment Plan) audits where an A or B grade means you're operating to or towards expected standards. But here’s the catch, GMP doesn’t always reflect your farm’s unique environmental risks. That means even if you’re hitting GMP, there could still be unreasonable negative impacts on the environment depending on your farm’s location, soil type, waterway proximity and system.

Here is Where the Risk Based Approach Comes In
This shifts the focus to the actual environmental risks on your specific farm.
- High-risk areas? You'll likely need to do more.
- Low-risk areas? Requirements may be lighter.
So ask yourself:
- What are the environmental risks on your farm?
- How are you mitigating them?
- Buying a new property? Consider whether it’s in a high-risk area and what obligations and costs might come with that.

As Freshwater Farm Plans (FWFPs) roll out, you’ll see more of this approach. Want to know what it means for your farm? Get in touch, we’re here to help you navigate the shift.

23/06/2025

Intensive Winter Grazing: Getting it Right This Season - Check out our latest blog post

What is Intensive Winter Grazing?   Intensive winter grazing involves grazing livestock on annual forage crops (such as kale or fodderbeet) between 1 May and 30 September. This practice is essential for maintaining animal health during the colder months but can pose risks to soil structure

11/06/2025

Check out the Rural Support auction to find two listings from the AgriBusiness Group, each offering $2,000 worth of Environmental Consultancy Services. All proceeds go directly to the Rural Support Trust. Show your support and get your bids in!

25/05/2025

Understanding the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL): What Landowners Need to Know!

In recent years New Zealand has seen growing concerns about the loss of high-quality agricultural land due to urban development and lifestyle block subdivisions. In response, the government introduced the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL), which came into effect on 17 Oc

27/04/2025

Farming Land Use Consents could impact your business — are you ready?
Learn more about Farming Land Use Consents and how the AgriBusiness Group can help. Read now 👉

What is a Farming Land Use Consent? As a farmer, there is a responsibility to comply with regional and national regulations that ensure sustainable land use and protect our natural resources. For certain activities, you may need a Farming Land Use Consent—especially if your farm is in an area with