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.
Federated Farmers is disappointed to learn that a fourth line of fodder beet seed has been confirmed as being contaminated with velvetleaf.
To date velvetleaf has been found in 11 regions on 250 properties.
Federated Farmers biosecurity spokesperson Guy Wigley says to find yet another line contaminated with velvetleaf is something more than a coincidence.
"All confirmed contaminated lines are via the same importer, DLF," he says.
"Farmers need to look very carefully at their feed source moving forward and carry out due diligence when looking at where to source their seed for the coming season."
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) have advised that the contaminated lines of fodder beet seed include Kyros 128, Bangor 126, Bangor 079 and Feldherr 16UB131.
MPI is managing a nationally co-ordinated approach to the incursion and response.
Federated Farmers is urging farmers who have planted fodder beet seed this season to check their crops for the presence of velvetleaf.
"The horrendous cost of this incursion continues to mount - we need to take the appropriate measures to contain and potentially reduce the geographical spread over time."
If you suspect you have velvetleaf in your crops, please contact MPI's Pests and Diseases hotline 0800 80 99 66.
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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