Ag's wish list keeps growing
When the new National-led government is finally formed there will be a long list waiting for it to action from the primary industries sector.
Nearly 200 rural contractors from around the country gather in Invercargill next week for the annual conference of the expanding $2b industry.
Rural Contractors NZ chief executive Andrew Olsen says the industry’s growth is being marked by new sponsorship arrangements – such as with major agrichemical company Nufarm as well as the second year of awards for trainees.
“We’ve landed a new partnership with Nufarm which in part reflects the fact farmers are increasingly moving away from storing and applying agrichemicals and allowing rural contractors to take on those roles,” Olsen says.
“We both recognise that the increasing environmental and workplace demands with agrichemicals require suppliers and our members to work together and develop better training, advice and feedback.”
Olsen says that’s part of the reason the Rural Contractors NZ last year developed its Trainee of the Year awards, with the 2023 winner to be announced at the Invercargill conference.
“Our members are supporting people who want to come into the industry and learn how to drive the big machines and develop all the necessary skills to harvest, cultivate or spray.”
The conference at the Ascot Park will be opened by National’s Agriculture and Trade spokesperson Todd McClay at lunchtime on Tuesday June 20 before workshops on precision farming, crop protection and wellbeing.
There are further workshops on Wednesday and panel discussions on Thursday, including one on health & safety and another on the future challenges and opportunites for rural contractors in dealing with emissions, chemical and plastic.
Fonterra says the sale of its global consumer business and its Oceania and Sri Lankan operations could take 18 months to complete.
The lobby group the Methane Science Accord (MSA) says it welcomes a recent government move to seek outside advice on reducing biological methane targets, rather than relying on recommendations made by the Climate Change Commission.
Well-known scientist Jock Allison has passed away.
After a decade of consultation and court battles, Environment Southland has officially adopted a plan to prevent further decline in the region's water quality.
Farmers are throwing down the gauntlet to politicians - hold an independent inquiry into rural bank lending or face tough questions from the farming sector.
China’s Ambassador Wang Xiaolong says bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and New Zealand has made significant and rapid progress.