increase font size
The Manawatu-Whanganui region has the largest number of sheep and beef cattle of any in New Zealand.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy recently launched a new scheme to lift the productivity and profitability of sheep and beef farmers in Manawatu-Whanganui.
The Sheep and Beef Land Productivity Programme comes out of the recently released Manawatu-Whanganui Growth Study, which identified the sheep and beef sector as a key opportunity for the region.
“This region has the largest number of sheep and beef cattle of any in New Zealand, so improving the performance of these farms will be an economic boost,” says Guy.
“We know the top 20% of red meat farmers achieve returns about four times more than those of the average red meat farmer, irrespective of land class and location. This shows the potential on offer.
Guy says a regional working group has begun developing a draft programme structure, looking at how to support farmers to reach their goals and remove barriers to them doing so.
“It will inform and inspire farmers through practical initiatives that make sense and work on the ground,” he adds.
“Of course the Government can’t and shouldn’t do this on our own and this will require involvement and investment by farmers and stakeholders. So it’s great to see there is widespread support from regional leaders to get cracking.”
OPINION: The decision by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to impose an immediate halt to live animal exports in the wake the sinking of the Gulf Livestock 1 off the coast of Japan is a sensible move.
Former Primary Industries Minister and Fonterra board aspirant Nathan Guy believes his relationships with bureaucrats in Wellington will help the co-op’s farmers immensely.
Whether 28,000 dairy cattle destined for China, and currently held in quarantine, actually get to their destination is up in the air.
The fate of 28,000 cows in quarantine in New Zealand and supposedly destined for China in the coming weeks hangs in the balance.
MPI has launched an independent review of the assurances it receives for the safe transport of livestock by sea.
Newly-crowned Share Farmers of the Year Sarah and Aidan Stevenson are looking forward to their leadership roles over the next 12 months.
Drought has contributed to New Zealand’s sheep flock falling over the past year.
DairyNZ board candidate Cole Groves says he is “living the dream” as a dairy farmer, milking just over 400 cows near Hinds in Mid-Canterbury.
The 2021 FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest kicks off this week.
It’s official, Fonterra’s organic farmers have become the first in the country to receive a double-digit milk payout.
The first batch of overseas agricultural machinery operators could be in the country by mid-October, says Rural Contractors NZ (RCNZ) chief executive Roger Parton.
OPINION: This old mutt hears that there is some discontent in the wool sector at the tactics being used by the…
OPINION: Your canine crusader, like many in the rural sector, was deeply distressed to hear the tragic news that a…
