OSPRI CEO resigns
OSPRI is searching for a new chief executive following the decision by Steve Stuart to resign after a five-year tenure.
The National Policy Direction for Pest Management has come into effect.
MPI’s director of biosecurity and animal welfare policy, Julie Collins, says established pests are estimated to cost New Zealand’s primary sector up to $3.3 billion annually.
“Even small improvements to New Zealand’s pest management system could save millions of dollars in the long term.”
“The National Direction will support national and regional management of challenging pest issues such as wilding conifers, by ensuring consistent approaches to the way rules are set across New Zealand and that landowner obligations are clearly signalled and underpinned by robust analysis.”
“The National Direction sets overarching requirements for national and regional pest and pathway management plans, and small-scale management programmes. It will ensure that these plans and programmes across New Zealand are clear and consistent, and provide the best value.”
National and regional pest management plans provide significant benefits for New Zealand. For example, the national pest management plan for bovine tuberculosis helps protect New Zealand’s dairy, beef and deer production, and enhances New Zealand’s reputation as a responsible producer of dairy and red meat products.
The plan has resulted in bovine tuberculosis levels in deer and cattle herds being the lowest ever reported.
The National Direction will also require all landowners in New Zealand, regardless of tenure, to manage pests spilling across boundaries onto neighbouring properties.
Those who will be directly affected by the National Direction include all regional councils and Kiwifruit Vine Health, the National Beekeepers Association, and OSPRI New Zealand. All these organisations have regional and national plans that manage pests and diseases that affect New Zealand.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
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