Feds make case for rural bank lending probe
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
An $111 million injection for biosecurity in Budget 2022 is a pragmatic acknowledgement of how vital it is to New Zealand’s economy that we stop pest organisms at our borders, says Federated Farmers.
"This extra money shows an appreciation by the government pest incursions can wreak havoc in our primary industries, New Zealand’s powerhouse for export earnings," says Federated Farmers arable chair and plant biosecurity spokesperson Colin Hurst.
"Plenty of Budget rounds go by without any bolstering of funding for biosecurity so we congratulate the government for making this a priority."
The funding announcement came on the fourth anniversary of New Zealand’s attempt to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis.
The $110.9m in the Budget includes $68 million over the coming year to continue momentum on the M. bovis programme.
"We need to keep our foot on the throat of this disease," Hurst says.
"Over the last few years 271 farms have been cleared of M. bovis and we’re down to just one infected property. Federated Farmers thanks both those farmers who have taken a hit on behalf of their colleagues and sector, and also those officials who have worked hard to get the programme right.
"It does underline the huge costs and disruption that can be avoided when we stop these organisms from getting into New Zealand, or when they’re here, stop them from wider spread in our herds and environment.
"Our biosecurity personnel deserve proper resources to do their work well," Hurst says.
. "This will be increasingly important as our borders open up to international passenger travel."
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
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