End of war on farming, say farmers
Federated Farmers says changes announced to the Resource Management Act today mark the end of the war on farming.
Generators are being organised for dairy farmers in the upper South Island so that they could milk cows, says Federated Farmers North Canterbury Dairy chairperson Michael Woodward.
He says farmers north of Culverden have been hit hard by the 7.5 earthquake and aftershocks.
Woodward told Rural News website that many farms were without power; there were also reports of rotary milking platforms damaged.
“We have been told herringbone milking sheds are okay; some rotary platforms were dislodged by the earthquake,” he says.
The biggest problems facing affected farmers are power supply and accessibility to farms.
“We are organising generators from farms in non-affected areas and making arrangements to send them to farmers,” Woodward says.
He says the hardest hit areas include Waiau, where damaged roads and bridges affect accessibility to farms; milk collection will be a problem.
“Road closures mean tankers will be going nowhere near some of the farms.”
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
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