120 years through thick and thin
2025 marks 120 years of FMG Advice and Insurance in New Zealand's rural communities.
RURAL INSURANCE company FMG has awarded 15 prizes to farmers as part of its milk quality awareness campaign.
Five dairy farmers won on-farm consultations with QCONZ (Quality Consultants New Zealand), which included analysis of cow flow and milking processes. Ten other dairy farmers won COWaPATCHe sticker dispenser kits to help track, manage and record critical dairy herd data.
The competition was part of FMG’s risk awareness campaign to prevent milk contamination. FMG’s statistics show clients annually make at least 900 milk contamination claims totaling $2.2m. Nearly half arise from milk contamination by antibiotics and 30% from plant failure.
FMG’s general manager of advice and insurance, Conrad Wilkshire, says milk contamination is a prominent issue in the dairy industry
“When things go wrong for our clients, we’re here to help them, but contaminated milk can still cost farmers a lot in lost productivity, penalties and lost export income.
“We like to take a proactive approach and help to manage clients’ risks. This competition was a great way to highlight the risks involved in milk production and reward our clients with prizes that continue to help ensure the highest milk quality with minimal interruption to their dairy operations.”
Two butcheries have claimed victory at the 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards for 2025.
A Taupiri farming company has been convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment.
The Climate Change Commission’s 2025 emissions reduction monitoring report reveals steady progress on the reduction of New Zealand’s climate pollution.
Another milestone has been reached in the fight against Mycoplasma bovis with the compensation assistance service being wound up after helping more than 1300 farmers.
The Government’s directive for state farmer Landcorp Farming (trading as Pamu) to lifts its performance is yielding results.
The move to bring bovine TB testing in-house at Ospri officially started this month, as a team of 37 skilled and experienced technicians begin work with the disease eradication agency.
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