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.
Some skilled migrant dairy farm employees will now be able to return to New Zealand from overseas.
The decision announced this week by the Government has been welcomed by DairyNZ.
“This is a real breakthrough for migrants who meet the criteria and gives their farm employers certainty to plan for the future,” said DairyNZ chief executive, Dr Tim Mackle.
Visa holders and their families will follow all border control processes and go into quarantine or managed isolation, before re-joining their communities in New Zealand.
DairyNZ says it has been working with the Government since the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown. The Government originally provided a six-month extension on employer-assisted temporary work visas due to expire by the end of 2020.
Mackle is strongly advising migrants and their employers understand the rules and confirm if they meet the exemption criteria before submitting applications.
“We don’t want to see additional stress, costs and disappointment for this group of patient people,” says Mackle.
DairyNZ says some migrants and their employers will not meet the criteria to come back to New Zealand.
“I am sure they will be disappointed and we thank them for the contribution they have made to our dairy sector,” says Mackle.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
OPINION: Canterbury milk processor Synlait is showing no sign of bouncing back from its financial doldrums.
OPINION: It seems every bugger in this country can get an award these days.