Feds make case for rural bank lending probe
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
Federated Farmers are welcoming the application by Landcare Research to introduce the British weevil into New Zealand.
The beetle will act as a biological control against the invasive field horsetail weed, which affects pastoral production.
Field horsetail is now widespread in parts of the North Island, the upper South Island and on the West Coast. The British weevil has the ability to reduce the plant, control its spread and, importantly, would not pose a threat to any other plants.
"Federated Farmers is supportive of any efforts to introduce a proven biological control for a significant pest problem. We now await a final decision from the Environmental Protection Authority and hope their assessment paves the way for a green light," says Federated Farmers pest management spokesperson Chris Allen.
"This weevil gives us a chance to control a highly annoying pest. It will reduce farmers' reliance on chemical weed treatments and help improve the productivity of their pastures."
If approved by the Environment Protection Authority, the introduction of the British weevil will follow the successful use of a parasitoid wasp to control the clover root weevil, which a decade ago posed a significant threat to New Zealand's agricultural sector.
"Clover pasture is the basis of our pastoral farming system, so bringing that pest under control was – and remains – critically important. With the British weevil we now have a chance to achieve the same with the field horsetail weed," says Allen.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
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