Te Puke student's passion rewarded
Despite experiencing the PSA outbreak first-hand growing up, Animal and Plant Health scholarship winner Sarah Wilson says deciding to study agribusiness was the best decision she could make.
THE KIWIFRUIT Claim had not been lodged with the High Court late last week, but it was understood the group was planning a public statement shortly.
The group, taking a class action against the Government over Psa, had initially said it would lodge the claim with the court earlier last month.
Kiwifruit Claim chairman John Cameron told Rural News last week it still had not been lodged but further information would be released soon.
The latest statement from the group claims 15% of gold growers had signed up and paid their one-off capped contributions of $500, $1000 or $1500 depending on the size of their orchard.
Green growers were not as badly affected by Psa so signup among them is lower, at 7% by volume so far, it says.
In addition, post-harvest operator Seeka has signed up and paid to become a plaintiff.
Cameron says a large number of growers and some post-harvest operators were wanting to take more time to consider the matter.
Others have questions about some clauses of the deed of participation between plaintiffs and the litigation funder.
“We’ve also asked the litigation funder to look at some of the clauses that have been the subject of scaremongering, and that work is in progress.
“While the committee is confident they do not present any risk to growers or post-harvest operators, LPF says they will look at some of the wording to see if they can be made clearer still.”
Growers and post-harvest operators would have until a date to be determined by the High Court to sign up to the claim once it is filed.
The claim will seek directions that growers and post-harvest operators be given an additional six months to opt in.
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.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…