OSPRI writes off $17m over botched traceability system
Animal disease management agency OSPRI has written off nearly $17 million after a botched attempt to launch a new integrated animal disease management and traceability system.
DairyNZ chairman Jim van der Poel says a constructive relationship with the Government is vital for the industry-good organisation.
He told the DairyNZ annual meeting in Ashburton last week that it will work pragmatically with incoming Government on issues affecting farmers.
“A key part of our strategy is to shape a better future for our sector and a constructive relationship with the Government is essential to that strategy,” he says.
“We have called them out from time to time, as you know, when we felt we needed to…such as on some of their water reforms and winter grazing rules.
“But our preference is to always try and work constructively with them and try and get best outcomes for our farmers.Because we believe at the end of the day that’s what delivers the best results.”
Van der Poel says it doesn’t mean DairyNZ always gets what it wants, but such an approach delivers better outcomes “than say, the alternative ways”.
He says DairyNZ has developed a good relationship with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her key ministers.
While DairyNZ doesn’t agree with all their policies, there are robust discussions with them over some of the decisions they make or want to make.
He says the decision to engage with them is paying off.
Van der Poel says decisions are made in Wellington based on “their views of the world or regions”.
DairyNZ’s job is to try and inform them through discussions and get better outcomes for farmers.
He says DairyNZ’s focus this term will be to work closely with the new government “so that policies are based on good science and evidence and gives time to our farmers to make appropriate changes where required”.
Van der Poel described DairyNZ’s financial year ending May 31 as a busy and challenging one.
He says Covid was one of those major unanticipated events that affected everyone here and abroad.
But it helped create an opportunity to highlight the value and importance of the dairy sector to NZ, he adds.
Van der Poel and Dairy Holdings Ltd chief executive Colin Glass were re-elected to the board for another three-year term.
It was bringing in a new Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show board, more in tune with the CAPA general committee, that has ensured that Christchurch will have a show this year, says CAPA general committee president Bryce Murray.
There is an urgent need for the Government to put a limit on the sale of farms for forestry - particularly for carbon farming.
A North Canterbury farmer has been elected as the first chair of Aotearoa New Zealand Catchment Communities (ANZCC).
To Kiwi ears, an international conference that talks about a "just and fair transition" to sustainable dairy sounds like a clarion call for better access to valuable markets. 'Just and fair' means more to the world than opening up borders to big exporters like NZ. Tim Fulton reports.
Can discarded beef skins become premium dog food? Would camel milk work for your morning flat white? These are just two of the questions that will be answered next week at an international conference in Palmerston North.
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