Conveyance Allowance Increase Welcomed by Rural Women
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) and Federated Farmers say they welcome the announcement last week that the Government will increase the conveyance allowance by 30%.
The future will see a continuation of the trend to fewer and larger farms, most of which will be ‘family corporates’, says AgFirst chief executive James Allen.
He says larger farms place more emphasis on reporting and information requirements than smaller ones.
Allen says he’s been talking to universities around the country about the implications stemming from his report and he says “they get it” and are starting to think about how they can best meet the needs of industry in the future.
He says while there may need to be changes to degree courses, it is essential for farm consultants of the future to have to have a core understanding of the basic principles of farming.
“The likes of an AgScience or BAgCom that gives an understanding of soils, pasture and livestock and how to integrate these is critical. What we need overlayed with that is a new set of skills around such things as data base management, GIS software skills and getting the best out of AI technology,” he says.
State farmer Pāmu says a programme it's running to help skilled operators into farm ownership is paying dividends.
Central Otago farmer Bevan McKnight no longer worries about leaving a few Angus cattle behind while mustering on the 13,000ha station he leases.
Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) and the Ag Emissions Centre have completed the latest phase of a mult-year methane research project, providing important insight into the role genetics may play in reducing gross emissions.
A lavish signing ceremony in Delhi has cemented in place a deal that will have massive economic benefits for some of NZ's key primary exports - notably forestry, horticulture, sheepmeat and wool.
Fonterra has announced interim changes to the leadership of its Global Ingredients business.

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