Crazy
OPINION: Your canine crusader was truly impressed by the almost unanimous support given by politicians of all stripes in Parliament to the recent passing of legislation for the NZ/EU free trade deal.
A controversial taskforce appointed by Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor to look into winter grazing practices will make its first report by end of this week.
O’Connor says the group will keep working on a plan of action to be presented to him by late September.
“My expectation of this group is to do a stocktake of the multiple initiatives already underway to promote good winter grazing practices and identify why these are not currently working for all,” said O’Connor.
“Then we need to come up with actions on how we can get farmers where they should be.
“The taskforce will draw on advice and expertise from various groups and individuals across the country who can inform and challenge the taskforce’s thinking.”
The taskforce is chaired by John Hellstrom, a former chair of the national animal welfare advisory committee.
The appointment on the taskforce of Hamilton businessman Angus Robson, who has spearheaded a recent campaign to highlight cows in bogged paddocks, has raised eyebrows in the farming sector and raised questions about O’Connor’s judgement.
Two farmers — Ewen Mathieson, Southland and Pania King, Gisborne — were also appointed.
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…