Cameron Henderson Reappointed Unopposed as DairyNZ Deputy Chair
DairyNZ deputy chair Cameron Henderson has been re-appointed unopposed for another term.
Some skilled migrant dairy farm employees will now be able to return to New Zealand from overseas.
The decision announced this week by the Government has been welcomed by DairyNZ.
“This is a real breakthrough for migrants who meet the criteria and gives their farm employers certainty to plan for the future,” said DairyNZ chief executive, Dr Tim Mackle.
Visa holders and their families will follow all border control processes and go into quarantine or managed isolation, before re-joining their communities in New Zealand.
DairyNZ says it has been working with the Government since the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown. The Government originally provided a six-month extension on employer-assisted temporary work visas due to expire by the end of 2020.
Mackle is strongly advising migrants and their employers understand the rules and confirm if they meet the exemption criteria before submitting applications.
“We don’t want to see additional stress, costs and disappointment for this group of patient people,” says Mackle.
DairyNZ says some migrants and their employers will not meet the criteria to come back to New Zealand.
“I am sure they will be disappointed and we thank them for the contribution they have made to our dairy sector,” says Mackle.
Farmgate lamb prices are down by 8%, beef cattle by 4.5% and farm expenditure up by 4.2%.
Kiwifruit growers are watchful but remain optimistic as concerns around the potential effects of the El Niño weather pattern this season.
Almond hulls sourced from Australian orchards may have the potential to help New Zealand cows reduce emissions, boost milk yield and lower input costs.
Striking a balance between meeting the needs of industry to speed up approval time for products but on the other hand ensuring that risks are properly assessed.
Surprised, humbled and quite thrilled. That’s the reaction of James Allen, one of the founding partners and now chief executive of AgFirst, on being made a life member of the Institute of Rural Professionals.
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