Tuesday, 14 September 2021 10:55

Strategy for Delta

Written by  Staff Reporters
Tim Mackle Tim Mackle

The dairy industry, along with all primary sectors, are going to have to be very proactive and innovative over the next two to three years to deal with the uncertainties created by Covid-19.

DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle told Dairy News that the industry is going to prepare a range of scenarios - from the worst to the best - to deal with the complexities that the Delta and other Covid variants might throw at the sector. He says it's anyone's guess as to what might happen and is important that planning done now to deal with any eventuality.

He says the dairy industry is a really important part of the economic engine that keeps NZ going and it is up to the industry to play its part in securing this objective. Dr Mackle notes that it's remarkable what has happened so far despite the pandemic.

"Last year Fonterra set a record for how much tonnage they exported and that's remarkable, given what happened. A lot of people are working pretty hard to continue to make it happen, including farmers," he says.

 Mackle says one of the key reasons for the success of the sector during Covid has been the efforts of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). He says they have done a magnificent job in advocating for the sector, to ensure common sense prevailed around how farmers and the rural sector could go about its business, pretty much as normal, despite restricted travel between Auckland and the rest of NZ.

"The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith, has been a real breath of fresh air and is a very strong and supportive leader.

"He's set the tone and we feel that MPI is really good ally for us and all the primary sectors. The dairy industry has also got to play its part and not let complacency set in," he says.

More like this

M.I.A.

OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released by the Treasury.

Featured

Dr Mike Joy says sorry, escapes censure

Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.

People-first philosophy pays off

The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

National

Machinery & Products

JDLink Boost for NZ farms

Connectivity is widely recognised as one of the biggest challenges facing farmers, but it is now being overcome through the…

New generation Defender HD11

The all-new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 looks likely to raise the bar in the highly competitive side-by-side category.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Buttery prize

OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having…

Gene Bill rumours

OPINION: The Gene Technology Bill has divided the farming community with strong arguments on both the pros and cons of…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter