Rewarding farmers who embrace sustainability
Winners of DairyNZ’s Sustainability and Stewardship awards in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards have their eyes firmly fixed on progressing a positive future for New Zealand dairy.
DairyNZ board and leadership team were in Wellington late last month to relay what farmers see as priority areas for easing the regulatory burden on dairy farming.
In an email message to levy payers, DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker says the meeting was a good opportunity to follow up on their pre-election advice to policymakers, their briefings to incoming ministers, and to answer any questions they had for the sector.
Parker notes that key announcements in the Government’s action plan released this week follow those discussions.
H says importantly for dairy farmers, these four areas are being considered over the next quarter are:
“We continue to advocate for simplified processes for Fresh Water Farm Plans, including recognition of existing industry plans delivered in partnership with dairy Companies to reduce complexity, cost, and duplication.
“The Government is in the early stages of outlining the scope for how it will address these areas. Our scientists and policy advisors will be actively ensuring the dairy sector’s evidence-based research leads to practical solutions that work on-farm.
“Other areas we flagged as being critical are being progressed by Government and include a review of rural regulations, and enhanced biosecurity. New technologies and workforce development are also areas we are advocating on behalf of farmers.”
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
There have been leadership changes at the Hamilton-based Dairy Goat Co-operative, which has been struggling financially in recent years.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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Another 16 commercial beef farmers have been selected to take part in the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme designed to help drive the uptake of genetics in the industry.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Kiwi exporters will be $100 million better off today as the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comes into force.
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