Crazy
OPINION: Your canine crusader was truly impressed by the almost unanimous support given by politicians of all stripes in Parliament to the recent passing of legislation for the NZ/EU free trade deal.
Government investment in on-the-ground efforts by farmers to improve land management practices has passed a milestone, with more than 170 catchment groups nationwide now receiving support, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.
“When it comes to freshwater, we have a job to do as an industry and that’s to restore our rivers within a generation,” O’Connor says.
On 14 September at a meeting with catchment group leaders and farmers, O’Connor announced $2.1 million in funding for 31 farmer-led catchment groups across the Manawatū, Rangitīkei, and Wairarapa which are helping farmers and growers transition to more sustainable land use.
“Nationally, these groups that we are backing provide on-the-ground support to more than 5,000 farmers, helping them access expertise and tools to improve their environmental and economic sustainability, not to mention wellbeing.”
O’Connor says that, over the past 18 months, the Government has invested close to $29 million in catchment groups through the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) extension services and Jobs for Nature programmes.
O’Connor says catchment groups support farmers to develop detailed Farm Environment Plans and provide an opportunity to learn good practice from one another.
“Catchment groups working together and farming integrating practical and meaningful insights from them into their farm plans is how we’re going to shift the dial,” O’Connor says.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
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.