Govt mandates wool carpets, boosting farmers and manufacturers
Farmers and wool carpet manufacturers are welcoming a Government decision to use wool fibre products in the construction and refurbishment of state buildings.
Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson says live exports of animals is a $500m trade that the country cannot afford to do without.
Patterson says the new Government will be working to overturn the ban placed by the former Labour Government.
"We will tidy up legislation so that animal welfare and safety of staff are paramount," he says.
Live cattle exports earn about $320 million annually for farmers and exporters. NZ cattle exports have helped China build their dairy herd, with nearly 135,000 cattle exported in 2021.
However, in April this year, labour banned livestock exports after an independent review said they could damage New Zealand's reputation regarding animal welfare. The reversal of the livestock exports ban is part of the coalition deal between National and NZ First. ACT also supports lifting the ban.
Dairy News understands new legislation around reversing the ban could be tabled in Parliament by the middle of next year.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.