Biosecurity award for M. bovis work
A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.
The country needs to be very careful about not allowing the debate over fresh water quality to be solely about the dairy industry.
That's the view of Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith who, along with Primary Industry Minister Nathan Guy, recently released a consultation document on fresh water entitled 'Next Steps'. This sets out a series of initiatives to improve water quality in lakes, rivers and waterways.
One of the main proposals centres on having dairy cows and pigs excluded from waterways by next July and beef and deer being phased in by 2030. A fine of $100 per animal up to a maximum of $2000 is also proposed.
Smith told Rural News that improving water quality is not just an issue for rural NZ, but for urban NZ as well.
"We need to be honest with city folk and tell them that their water ways are the most polluted. Having said that, we need farmers to appreciate that our biggest water quality problem by scale is in those areas where there is intensive farming," he adds.
"The Government wants to see that everybody does their share of the heavy lifting. There is no question that dairy farmers are under substantial financial pressure and the Government does need to take that into account.
"With that in mind, our view is that the direction around water quality needs to be constant, but the pace needs to be adjusted to take account of the level of financial pressure the dairy industry is under at the moment."
Smith says, in actual fact, the requirement to fence cows out of water ways is not a major one for the dairy industry. He says about 98% of dairy farmers already comply and there are just a few stragglers that need to be dealt with.
Third-year student Cady Burns has won the Waikato Regional Council Prize in Water Science for 2024.
The Rural Change programme, providing free private mental health professional sessions to the rural industry, is set to continue its next chapter within Rural Support Trust from 1 July 2024.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Sam McIvor will step down in July.
A new report shows farm employers across the dairy, sheep and beef, and arable sectors have continued to invest strongly in one of their greatest assets – their staff.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
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