US removes reciprocal tariff on NZ beef
Red meat farmers and processors are welcoming a US Government announcement - removing its reciprocal tariffs on a range of food products, including New Zealand beef.
OPINION: This old mutt reckons it doesn’t take long for farmer directors to get their noses well and truly in the trough when they get elected to levy organisation boards.
Take, for example, Beef+Lamb director Kate Acland, who was only elected on to the BLNZ board back in March 2021. She has now packed her bags for her first post-Covid overseas jolly – care of farmer levypayers.
Acland was joined by BLNZ chair Andrew Morrison, chief executive Sam McIvor and policy manager Dave Harrison on an all-expenses-paid trip to the EU and UK, described as “a whistle-stop tour meeting agricultural counterparts, farmers, government officials and politicians in the UK and the EU in support of further developing New Zealand’s relationships”.
Oh, and the trip also manages to squeeze in “celebrations” to mark the Meat Board Centenary, with events in London and Brussels. Nice for some!
The Government is set to announce two new acts to replace the contentious Resource Management Act (RMA) with the Prime Minister hinting that consents required by farmers could reduce by 46%.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change would be “a really dumb move”.
The University of Waikato has broken ground on its new medical school building.
Undoubtedly the doyen of rural culture, always with a wry smile, our favourite ginger ninja, Te Radar, in conjunction with his wife Ruth Spencer, has recently released an enchanting, yet educational read centred around rural New Zealand in one hundred objects.
Farmers are being urged to keep on top of measures to control Cysticerus ovis - or sheep measles - following a spike in infection rates.
The avocado industry is facing an extremely challenging season with all parts of the supply chain, especially growers, being warned to prepare for any eventuality.

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