Perrin Ag welcomes new consultant Alyssa Brazendale
Agri advisor Perrin Ag says its graduate recruitment programme continues to bring new talent into the agricultural sector.
Dairy professional Rob Brazendale has joined Perrin Ag as the consultancy firm looks to strengthen its support of farmers and growers.
Brazendale was DairyNZ's regional leader for the Lower North Island before he took up the new role.
With 30 years of experience in the dairy sector, Brazendale will be based in Palmerston North and work with farmers around the country.
Brazendale says he's in a unique position to help farmers more than ever.
"I've been in agriculture a long time and my work has been varied: farm advisory work, farm management research, rural banking, and dairy farm systems development.
"I also run a lamb and beef finishing operation in the Manawatu. So, I have a good understanding of farming, from milking cows and shearing sheep to the regulatory process in Wellington.
"I enjoy working one-on-one with farmers, but I'm more useful in a role where I can help shape the policies that affect farmers throughout the country. That's what I'm looking to do with Perrin Ag."
Brazendale says the Government wants to implement changes for the good of the environment and the country.
"I know some of the people at that level - I've worked with them before - and they really are toiling with good intentions.
"The challenge they face is understanding how their policies impact the wider farming system.
"Here's an example. When a government ecologist looks at a freshwater situation, they're seeing the issue almost exclusively through that ecological lens, which makes sense.
"What they often don't see are the domino effects their proposed changes could have beyond the immediate freshwater issue. That's what frustrates farmers - when well-meaning policies are unworkable or make farming less competitive.
"Part of my job is to bridge the gap between these worlds - to bring the on-farm perspective into the policy-making room, and vice versa. If that can be done, the environment can be respected, and farming can be sustain its profitability, New Zealand needs both."
Perrin Ag managing director Lee Matheson values Brazendale's successful track record in senior leadership, along with his exceptional technical knowledge and communication skills.
"He will be instrumental in helping us grow our business in the Rangitikei, Manawatu and Hawke's Bay, so farmers and growers in those regions can reach their full potential," he says.
"He will also be an asset to our firm as a mentor to our growing team of rural professionals and as someone with strong banking and industry connections."
Meat co-operative, Alliance has met with a group of farmer shareholders, who oppose the sale of a controlling stake in the co-op to Irish company Dawn Meats.
Rollovers of quad bikes or ATVs towing calf milk trailers have typically prompted a Safety Alert from Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation dedicated to fostering a safer farming culture across New Zealand.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
A group of Kiwi farmers are urging Alliance farmer-shareholders to vote against a deal that would see the red meat co-operative sell approximately $270 million in shares to Ireland's Dawn Meats.
In a few hundred words it's impossible to adequately describe the outstanding contribution that James Brendan Bolger made to New Zealand since he first entered politics in 1972.
Dawn Meats is set to increase its proposed investment in Alliance Group by up to $25 million following stronger than forecast year-end results by Alliance.
OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.
OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.