RWNZ chief executive to step down
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) chief executive Gabrielle O’Brien will step down at the end of June.
New Zealand farmers are being urged to carry on producing food while respecting coronavirus guidelines issued by the Government.
Federated Farmers dairy chairman Chris Lewis says farming is classified as an essential service, so is milk and meat processing.
Lewis says that meat and dairy companies will continue to operate as the country moves into the highest level of alert for coronavirus from midnight Wednesday.
Lewis says the message to farmers is to carry on producing food while respecting the guidelines.
“We are good at producing food and the world needs food.”
Lewis says farmers are being urged to keep reasonable distance from visitors and avoid face-to-face interaction.
“Farmers will get tanker drivers, vets and technicians coming up their driveways.
“As farmers working alone, we sometimes crave for interaction with people but this is a serious situation and we must respect the guidelines issued by the PM.”
The Government has lifted coronavirus alert to Level 3 and is moving to Level 4 in 48 hours.
Lewis says the Prime Minister has spoken to Feds president Katie Milne.
He said all farmer organisatons- DairyNZ, Feds, DCANZ, MIA, Beef and Lamb NZ and meat and dairy processors are working hard to keep farmers informed.
“These are trying times; most people are working from home but there is a lot of hard work underway to keep farmers in the loop.”
“We are all in this together; let’s keep in touch by phone, text, email and social media with each other.”
OPINION: In recent years farmers have been crying foul of unworkable and expensive regulations.
Another 16 commercial beef farmers have been selected to take part in the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme designed to help drive the uptake of genetics in the industry.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Kiwi exporters will be $100 million better off today as the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comes into force.
Making things simpler, not harder, for deer farmers in farm planning and coping with regulations is Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) industry capability manager John Ladley’s current focus.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is launching an online business directory called The Country Women’s Collective to promote and support entrepreneurial rural women.
New Zealand actor Sam Neill has joined the Campaign for Wool NZ as an ambassador, lending his name and profile to educate and advocate for New Zealand strong wool.