fbpx
Print this page
Thursday, 28 April 2022 12:55

Combined voice

Written by  Staff Reporters
Agcarm president Gavin Kerr. Agcarm president Gavin Kerr.

The two associations representing NZ's crop protection and animal health industries will merge this month.

Agcarm (formerly known as the Agricultural Chemical and Animal Remedy Manufacturers' Association) and the Animal Remedies and Plant Protection Association (ARPPA) will join forces to become a single united industry voice named the Animal and Plant Health Association of New Zealand Inc. - abbreviated to Animal and Plant Health New Zealand.

The new body will represent more than 90% of New Zealand's animal health and crop protection manufacturers - a $1-billion industry. It will also include rural retailer businesses and associate members.

"By joining together, we have one united industry voice representing our members to government, consuers and other stakeholders," says Agcarm president Gavin Kerr.

"It's an exciting and challenging time for our industry and the right time to unite and strengthen our voice." adds Kerr. He is referring to the impacts of Covid-19 and the increasingly complex challenges of supply chains and new regulations.

ARPPA chair Ed Catherwood says that his members voted unanimously to join with Agcarm.

"This merger is a fitting tribute to the late Colin Harvey, a long time ARPPA chairman and renowned industry veteran, who advocated for this merger," he adds.

More like this

Clostridial Disease in Lambs: NZ Vaccination Guide

Although preventable, lamb loss from clostridial diseases during the first year of life on New Zealand hill country farms continues to be an issue. A field trial, where lambs were vaccinated at docking and weaning, demonstrated that vaccination was highly effective, lowering clostridial deaths by 23%. Zoetis veterinarian Dr Victoria Chapman unpacks the importance of robust animal health programmes, vaccination timing and the potential harmful consequences for stock when vaccination isn't given.

BVD Control in Dairy Herds: How to Find & Remove PI Animals

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is estimated to cost New Zealand's dairy and beef industries more than $150 million every year, yet many of the tools needed to control it are already well understood. After more than 25 years in veterinary practice, Andrew Weir, animal health technical specialist at LIC, has seen firsthand the impact BVD can have on herd performance. We asked him about the role of persistently infected (PI) animals and the practical steps farmers can take to reduce their risk.

Transition Period: The Make-or-Break Window for Dairy Cows

The transition period is the make-or-break window for your entire season. If this period is poorly managed, you don't just see a few downer cows, you see a downward spiral that affects the cow's health, production and reproduction long into the season.

Managing Light Ewes at Scanning: Wormwise Advice

Scanning is a great time to start identifying and managing groups of ewes based on feeding priorities. Wormwise's Mary Bowron discusses some of the possible reasons ewes lose condition in early winter - and it's not necessarily internal parasites.

Featured

RSE Scheme Changes Coming - McClay

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has admitted that a scheme bringing workers from Pacific nations to work on orchards has become too hard to navigate but says changes are coming.

Andy Macfarlane Joins AgriZeroNZ Board

Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane has been appointed to the board of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for New Zealand farmers.

National

Machinery & Products