New Dairy Holdings CEO Backs Self-Contained Model
Running a tight and self-contained ship is the key to the success of the country's largest dairy farmer, says Blair Robinson, the new man at the helm of Dairy Holdings.
Mycoplasma bovis infection has now been confirmed in animals on 23 properties, MPI has announced.
All infected properties are under quarantine controls set out in Restricted Place Notices under the Biosecurity Act. These legal controls restrict the movement of stock and equipment on and off those farms to contain the disease.
The regional breakdown is:
Farmers are meeting to discuss a national testing programme to be rolled out across the country. The programme, run by DairyNZ and the Ministry for Primary Industry, involves testing nearly 11,000 herds across 7 regions. Testing involves taking three samples, including two taken by farmers 14 days apart, and having tanker drivers collect the samples and send them to the lab.
Farms that have already been tested in South Canterbury, Southland/Otago and Hastings region will not need to be re-tested.
The roll out of national testing meetings will be as follows;
Feb 7-9 - Central Districts
Feb 13-15 - Areas of Canterbury that have not been tested
Feb 14-15 - Taranaki
Feb 19-21 - West Coast and Northland
Feb 19-22 – Bay of Plenty
Feb 22-23 - Top of the South Island
Feb 26-28 – Waikato
More information: https://www.dairynz.co.nz/animal/cow-health/mycoplasma-bovis
Farms across the upper North Island are trialling different pasture mixes as part of a research programme that aims to build greater resilience into farming systems.
Election years are always a concerning time for farmers, according to DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown.
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards are coming to the West Coast of the South Island.
Most dairy regions around the country have had a pretty good season so far says Tracy Brown.
Rural leader Mark Hooper has been appointed as an independent director to the NZPork board, bringing extensive farming, governance and advocacy experience to the role.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.