MPI launches industry-wide project to manage feral deer
An industry-wide project led by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is underway to deal with the rising number of feral pests, in particular, browsing pests such as deer and pigs.
OPINION: As this old mutt suggested in the last issue, MPI looks a very good candidate for some serious public sector savings that the government is currently looking for.
This follows news that the MPI has started consulting staff on proposals that will see 384 jobs cut as it aims to trim its workforce by 9%.
Around 40% of those roles are currently vacant and will not be filled.
In the last five years alone, MPI have employed 1100 new staff.
Of course, as soon as the cost cutting was announced, the public service union has tried to run a scare campaign claiming these cuts will see the likes of M. bovis and Psa programmes gutted and risking NZ exports.
However, the fact is Psa was wiped out years ago and currently there are no active M. bovis cases in the country.
What does the union want?
Thousands of underemployed bureaucrats sitting around in offices, twiddling their pens on $100k plus a year? Get real!
Thirty years ago, as a young sharemilker, former Waikato farmer Snow Chubb realised he was bucking a trend when he started planting trees to provide shade for his cows, but he knew the animals would appreciate what he was doing.
Virtual fencing and herding systems supplier, Halter is welcoming a decision by the Victorian Government to allow farmers in the state to use the technology.
DairyNZ’s latest Econ Tracker update shows most farms will still finish the season in a positive position, although the gap has narrowed compared with early season expectations.
New Zealand’s national lamb crop for the 2025–26 season is estimated at 19.66 million head, a lift of one percent (or 188,000 more lambs) on last season, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) latest Lamb Crop report.
Farmers appear to be cautiously welcoming the Government’s plan to reform local government, according to Ag First chief executive, James Allen.
The Fonterra divestment capital return should provide “a tailwind to GDP growth” next year, according to a new ANZ NZ report, but it’s not “manna from heaven” for the economy.

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