OSPRI introduces movement control area in Central Otago to protect livestock
From 1 October, new livestock movement restrictions will be introduced in parts of Central Otago dealing with infected possums spreading bovine TB to livestock.
Agribusiness leader Barry Harris has been appointedchairman of OSPRI, the primary industry organisation responsible for managingthe TBfree and NAIT programmes.
Barry succeeds Jeff Grant, who has stepped down having been appointed by Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association to help manage the red meat sector's response to Brexit in London.
Harris says he is delighted and honoured to be taking on the chair of OSPRI.
“I am excited about the future of the company. OSPRI has an important role to play in helping deliver both the TBfree and NAIT programmes and I’m strongly committed to working with shareholders and other key stakeholders to ensure OSPRI is a success.’
‘On behalf of the OSPRI management and other board members I’d like to wish Jeff the best of luck in the UK in his new role and thank him for his significant contribution that he has made to OSPRI and the wider beef, dairy and deer industry during his time as OSPRI Chair.’
Harris has a long association with agriculture and particularly the dairy sector serving as a senior executive with Fonterra and as a long standing board member of DairyNZ. Barry is currently chair of McFall Fuel, Food Innovation Waikato and Wintec; and director of DairyNZ and WEL Networks.
Barry has a Master of Agricultural Science (Honours) and lives in Hamilton.
The OSPRI Board expressed their gratitude to Grant, who has successfully led the organisation through major changes, particularly the new TBfree strategy.
As the sector heads into the traditional peak period for injuries and fatalities, farmers are being urged to "take a moment".
Federated Farmers says almost 2000 farmers have signed a petition launched this month to urge the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is underway with approximately 33 million trays, or 118,800 tonnes, expected this year from orchards throughout France, Italy, Greece, Korea, and Japan.
Animal owners can help protect life-saving antibiotics from resistant bacteria by keeping their animals healthy, says the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
According to analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA), New Zealand red meat exports reached $827 million in October, a 27% increase on the same period last year.
The black and white coat of Holstein- Friesian cows is globally recognised as a symbol of dairy farming and a defining trait of domestic cattle. But until recently, scientists didn’t know which genes were responsible for the Holstein’s spots.

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