Ag's wish list keeps growing
When the new National-led government is finally formed there will be a long list waiting for it to action from the primary industries sector.
A retired Northland farmer and machinery driver says rural contractors must take some blame for the current shortage of skilled operators.
An estimated 28 million tonnes of crop worth $110 million will be at risk if overseas machinery operators are not allowed into the country, according to a survey by Rural Contractors of NZ.
The Bay of Island farmer, who preferred his name not to be used with this article, says contractors should stop moaning and reflect on what they have done to encourage and train local operators.
“These contractors want to pay minimum hourly rates and expect staff to work over a standard 13-hour day as the crop has to be harvested,” he told Rural News.
“I am available but I am not succumbing to slave labour or feeling guilty for asking for a fair and reasonable pay rate.”
Rural Contractors NZ executive director Roger Parton says if contractors charge farmers more, they end up looking for cheaper contractors.
Parton says recruiting and training young people for driving jobs in agriculture hasn’t been easy.
“Working in rural areas doesn’t appeal to young people; there is no broadband, they can’t use their phones and there’s no corner dairy for them to buy their lunch.”
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.
Two major red meat sector projects are getting up to a combined $1.7 million in funding from the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer of The Wandle, Lone Star Farms in Strath Taieri have been named the Regional Supreme Winners at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Dunedin.
OPINION: The distress that the politicians and bureaucrats are causing to the people of Wairoa and the wider Tairāwhiti is unforgivable.
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.
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…