Editorial: Passage to India
OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.
In many ways the Government's new regulations on animal welfare should not be necessary.
Farmed animals are the mainstay of our economy and to treat them badly is plain dumb, threatening the income of the very farmers responsible for these creatures' ability to produce high quality milk, meat or fibre.
Animals that are cared for well -- well fed, farmed in an appropriate environment and not stressed -- grow better and produce more. It's not rocket science to care for them.
Sadly, the Government is compelled to enact legislation to deal with the idiot fringe – people too lazy, too dumb and adopting a she'll be right attitude to animal welfare.
The new regulations will rightly hit them and so they should because they hurting the animals, which is cruel in itself, and are damaging New Zealand's reputation and putting markets at risk. Arguably they are committing treason!
The Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy, points out that NZ has a great reputation for food safety and biosecurity and it must apply the same high standards to animal welfare.
Modern consumers, whether in Beijing, Boston or Blenheim, are interested to know how animals are treated onfarm, and if they hear of maltreatment they may not buy certain products. Reputational capital is all important to NZ.
In times past a farmer could feel safe from public scrutiny behind the boundary fence – not so now. Mobile phones with cameras can quickly capture images of the mistreatment of animals. The animal rights activists get great delight in highlighting farmers and others who treat their livestock badly.
Complicating this is the growing rural-urban divide, so farmers need to be more proactive in explaining their sensible farming practices which to a townie may appear cruel or wrong. The primary sector has been very lax over the years in this regard.
More regulations and resulting harsher penalties are an unfortunate necessity; let's hope common sense prevails so that the need to invoke them is minimal.
NZ is a world leader in food safety and is doing more than ever in environmental matters. And it is equally important that we look after our animals.
Nathan Guy says most NZ farmers look after their animals very well and they won't notice any significant changes "but those few scallywags who don't will have to pull up their socks".
It is about time.
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.