MPI job cuts 'won't disrupt organisational structure'
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.
The country's pork sector has welcomed an extension to consultation on a controversial draft code of welfare for pigs.
Following a request to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), it has agreed to extend the consultation by two weeks to July 8 after discussions with NZ Pork.
"When the consultation was launched at the end of April, it quickly became clear to us that an eight-week period was insufficient time to allow for well-considered submissions to be made from all industry stakeholders," chief executive of NZ Pork Brent Kleiss says.
:"The proposed changes are colosal and unprecedented, the material accompanying the draft code is substantial and there is a large amount of information for farmers and other industry stakeholders to review and assess.
"Given the survival of individual farmers and the industry supply chain is at stake, we are pleased MPI has agreed to our request."
The draft code goes well beyond the welfare requirements in other countries.
It includes major changes to the minimum space allowance required for grower pigs, a ban or significant limitation on the traditional use of farrowing systems (farrowing crates) and an effective ban on mating stalls.
Kleiss claims the proposed changes could force pig farmers out of business and put the price of New Zealand born and raised pork out of the reach of many New Zealanders.
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.
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