DairyNZ Sets Out Election Priorities for Dairy Farmers
Election years are always a concerning time for farmers, according to DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown.
New Zealand's border inspection system is getting a new fleet of x-ray machines.
Eleven x-ray machines will replace existing machines at Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown airports used to inspect both the checked-in and hand luggage of people arriving in New Zealand.
Auckland and Christchurch will also receive new technology to reduce the amount of handling required to load and unload luggage onto and off the x-ray machines.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy announced this at Horticulture NZ's annual conference today.
"The new x-ray images will be of a better quality than we currently have, which will make Quarantine Inspectors' jobs easier and more efficient," says Guy.
"This is the first step of a major equipment replacement programme as part of our ongoing commitment to strengthen New Zealand's biosecurity system.
"This investment in one of the tools that the Ministry for Primary Industries uses at the border, along with the continuing recruitment of frontline Quarantine Inspectors and increases in dog handler teams," he says.
Farmgate lamb prices are down by 8%, beef cattle by 4.5% and farm expenditure up by 4.2%.
Kiwifruit growers are watchful but remain optimistic as concerns around the potential effects of the El Niño weather pattern this season.
Almond hulls sourced from Australian orchards may have the potential to help New Zealand cows reduce emissions, boost milk yield and lower input costs.
Striking a balance between meeting the needs of industry to speed up approval time for products but on the other hand ensuring that risks are properly assessed.
Surprised, humbled and quite thrilled. That’s the reaction of James Allen, one of the founding partners and now chief executive of AgFirst, on being made a life member of the Institute of Rural Professionals.
It was billed as a chance for all the political parties to woo the rural vote, but question marks hang over just how effective this was.