NZ red meat sector hits out at US tariff hike
New Zealand's red meat sector says the United States' decision to increase tariffs on New Zealand exports is disappointing.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has congratulated the National Fieldays Society for another successful event at Mystery Creek in Waikato.
The event attracted over 130,000 visitors, including 500 international guests from 42 different countries; expected to generate around $400 million into the New Zealand economy.
The four day Fieldays event kicked off on Tuesday night with Prime Minister John Key helping launch the Primary Industry 'Champions' initiative. This online campaign features Kiwi icons like Richie McCaw, Rob and Sonia Waddell, Sir David Fagan and many others.
"These well-known New Zealanders will help raise awareness of the primary sector and encourage young people to consider a career in this broad field," says Guy.
Ministers Steven Joyce and Guy officially opened the Fieldays Careers and Education Hub which provided a learning platform for urban and rural teenagers interested in the primary sector.
"I was very impressed by the eighty entrepreneurs that entered the innovation section. A lot of these ideas will be commercialised and help grow our agri-tech exports, which are worth over $1.2 billion per year," says Guy.
"The Situation Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) 2016 was released at Fieldays and proves how diversified the sector has become. While dairy export returns are lower, overall revenue has grown by $1 billon to nearly $37 billion. Strong growth in horticulture, beef, wool, forestry, food processing and seafood exports shows the primary sector in good heart.
"The Government also announced an extra $600,000 of funding to help strengthen local mental health networks for farmers and rural communities. This will help ensure we maintain the momentum achieved last year, while also putting a plan in place for the future."
A wide range of Ministers and MPs attended the Fieldays including Prime Minister John Key and Ministers Bill English, Steven Joyce, Paula Bennett, Jonathan Coleman, Todd McClay, Jo Goodhew and Louise Upston.
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.
DairyNZ says its plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical, science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.
'Common sense' cuts to government red tape will make it easier for New Zealand to deliver safe food to more markets.
Balclutha farmer Renae Martin remembers the moment she fell in love with cows.
Academic freedom is a privilege and it's put at risk when people abuse it.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.