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.
OSPRI Chief Executive Michelle Edge will leave the organisation in mid-September.
Edge says that over the last three years, the company has achieved significant outcomes.
This includes a complete restructure and change management and business improvement programme.
She says OSPRI achieved significant developments in terms of its focus on its core programmes, TBfree and NAIT, the development of new initiatives and the confirmation of its Strategic Plan, despite the significant funding reduction.
Chairman Jeff Grant says Edge has made a big contribution to the reshaping of OSPRI since joining the company.
This included a restructuring of the TBfree program and dealing with $20 million reduction of funding for TBfree.
“This required downsizing the business to better fit the requirements of risk based testing and the eventual eradication of TB in New Zealand. Michelle has played a major role in also ensuring the NAIT Review was completed which will see changes implemented that give a more usable system for the Industry and confidence in providing the intended outcomes when it was first set up,” Grant says.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.
Fears of a serious early drought in Hawke’s Bay have been allayed – for the moment at least.