Junket?
OPINION: The Hound notes that the Taxpayers’ Union recently revealed that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) spent more than $125,000 for its presence at this year’s Mystery Creek Fieldays.
In the past 49 years, the National Fieldays in Mystery Creek has welcomed over 4.3 million people.
Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation says the event has “successfully exposed a good part of our country to the Primary Industry, and passed on valuable information”.
“Over these past 49 years we have also exposed the NZ Primary sector to the world through our thousands of international visitors we welcome each year, the massive international media we welcome and our innovation we export annually.”
Cumulative sales from the Fieldays over the last 49 years have surpassed $18 billion.
“We are proud to be supporting our economy,” he says.
Nation says this year’s 50 Fieldays again have some new and exciting events.
Yesterday- the first day of the four-day event- saw nearly 25000 people pass through the gates.
The 50th Fieldays was opened by Governor General Patsy Reddy.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.
Rural trader PGG Wrightson has revised its operating earnings guidance, saying trading conditions have deteriorated since the last market update in February.
It's been a bumper season for maize and other supplements in the eastern Bay of Plenty.