Bikinis in cowshed
OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.
The High Court deadline is at 5pm today, yet apple and stonefruit industry members are still waiting to hear from MPI regarding proposed directives.
Following a meeting last Friday, the first and only meeting since the High Court sent this group of orchardists and nursery owners and MPI back to the drawing board, there has been some limited communication from MPI, according to affected apple and stonefruit industry members.
The judge instructed MPI to engage with the affected industry members to seek alternative directives for the management of over 48,000 apple and stonefruit plants.
According to Kerry Sixtus of Pattullo’s Nurseries, “MPI recently shared a draft testing plan with us which is a critical element of how we propose to manage the plants that are in containment, and sets the scene for how long it may take for these plants to be released. Until we have clarity on the testing plan, we are unable to prepare for any commercial activity.
“At first glance, the proposed testing plan does not incorporate critical actions that were agreed with the MPI representatives at the meeting on Friday. We are working on our response at the moment, and hope to engage again with MPI next week.
“There has been no discussion about the revised directives with MPI. We can only remain optimistic that MPI will take on board the court order and narrow the original directives,” says Sixtus.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.