Editorial: Agri's mojo is back
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
A Whāngārei farm manager has been fined $3,130 after hitting a cow with an alkathene pipe and a metal bar.
Michael Ian Luke, a 62-year-old former Mangapai dairy farm manager, was sentenced yesterday in the Whāngārei District Court following a court case brought through by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
Between 1 April and 18 May 2018, Luke handled dairy cows violently, including striking them with excessive force with an alkathene pipe and hitting them about the legs with a metal pipe.
Luke hit one cow in particular about the legs with a metal pipe so severely that both legs were badly swollen and she struggled to walk.
Luke entered a guilty plea to a representative charge under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. He was convicted and ordered to pay $3,130.
The charge was related to hitting a cow with an alkathene pipe and a metal bar.
MPI director of compliance Gary Orr said people who were in charge of animals had a duty of care toward them.
"The law is clear on these matters and anyone would agree this does not meet our high standards for the care of animals."
Individuals who are aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty can report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone on 0800 00 83 33.
Commercial fruit and vegetable growers are being encouraged to cast their votes in the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board directors' election.
A unique discovery by a Palmerston North science company, Biolumic, looks set to revolutionise the value and potential of ryegrass and the secret is the application of ultraviolet (UV) light.
A New Zealand company is redefining the global collagen game by turning New Zealand sheepskin into a world-class health product.
With further extreme weather on the way, ANZ Bank is encouraging farmers and business owners impacted by the recent extreme weather and flooding to seek support if they need it.
New Zealand must continue to educate Chinese consumers about the unique qualities of its red meat products and how they differ from competitors, says Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton.
There are opportunities outside the farmgate for young farmers to further develop their skills, says 2025 Primary Industries Emerging Leader Award winner Bridie Virbickas.