Feds support live animal exports
Federated Farmers have reiterated their support for the coalition Government to abolish the present ban on the live export of animals.
The opposition claims that the Ministry for Primary Industries has ‘dumbed down’ the expertise needed to handle major food safety issues such as the recent 1080 threat.
Labour’s rural issues spokesman Damien O’Connor told Dairy News that such matters require technical expertise and are a crucial area of government.
It’s a worry, he says, alluding to many stories he has heard of delays, confusion and uncertainty in the food safety area that shouldn’t occur in a country so dependent on this. He reiterated his call to pull food safety and biosecurity out of the ‘conglomerate’ of MPI. He says each of these two groups needs to focus solely on its specific tasks.
O’Connor says he’s concerned at way the Government handled the release of the 1080 threat.
“The national launch about the threat was overplayed, the fact that it didn’t continue was great,” he said.
“It was over-hyped from the first press conference. What politicians including the Prime Minister have done is unhelpful. The timing of the disclosure will be exposed in the review of this matter, as will the confusion over how and when exporters should have been notified….
“Some exporters have had product certified by MPI on the water yet MPI knew full well it could be affected by requirements for further testing and that has annoyed a number of exporters.”
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
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