Election 2026: How Parties Would Lift the Arable Sector
As part of its Election 2026 coverage, Rural News asked political parties how they would help pull the arable sector out of the doldrums. Here's what they said:
Prime Minister John Key meets Indonesian dairy farmers taking part in Fonterra’s scholarship programme.
Indonesia is one of Fonterra's priority markets where it sees huge potential for growth.
The co-op opened a $36 million plant at Cikarang last year; up to 87,000 packs of the co-op's Anlene, Anmum and Anchor Boneeto dairy brands are packed there each day.
Prime Minister John Key visited the plant last week during an official tour of Indonesia. With him were Indonesia's Deputy Minister of National Development Planning, Gellwynn Daniel Hamzah Jusuf; New Zealand Minister of Trade, Todd McClay; Fonterra's chief operating officer of farm source, Miles Hurrell; and the president director of Fonterra Brands Indonesia, Achyut Kasireddy.
Kasireddy says NZ and Indonesia have shared a positive relationship for 65 years and Fonterra has flown the NZ flag in Indonesia for at least 30 years.
"Our investment in this site allows us to produce more high quality dairy nutrition to meet Indonesians' increasing demand for dairy.
"At the same time, as a dairy cooperative owned by farmers, we are looking to help grow the Indonesian dairy industry by working with local dairying communities to help up-skill farmers through our Fonterra Dairy Scholarship programme, now in its fourth year," says Kasireddy.
Several farmer alumni from the Fonterra Dairy Scholarship programme told the delegation of their experiences during the 12 month courses, run with the Indonesian directorate-general of livestock farming. They learn best-practice farming techniques during farm training in Indonesia and during a 12-week visit to NZ.
The delegation toured the factory, tasted dishes created by a Fonterra chef and learned about the co-op's consumer brands.
Federated Farmers has welcomed new rural policies released by ACT, saying they align closely with its own election priorities.
Rural Contractors NZ says proposed changes to land transport rules for agricultural vehicles are a welcome response by the Government to out of date regulations which have seen members hit with huge fines.
Alliance is calling for final applications for its 2027 Graduate Programme, with applications closing on Sunday 25 October.
Decades piloting planes has ensured vet and farmer David Hayes is focused on safety. So, after a serious accident while welding on farm, he is sharing his experience so others can learn from it.
Canterbury milk processor, Synlait Milk has confirmed Leon Fung as its chief executive officer.
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