Friday, 06 November 2015 13:15

Technology propels dairy industry - PM

Written by 

Prime Minister John Key has praised the dairy industry for driving innovation and technology at the opening of Waikato Milking Systems new $13 million building in Hamilton today.

Key says the use of innovation and science is helping the industry succeed.

He says the size of the New Zealand dairy industry is often misunderstood overseas.

"When I go out and negotiate free trade deals around the world, people often think that we are bigger than we actually are,' he says.

"We only produce 3% of the world's milk; the issue is we are the biggest exporter because of our small domestic population.

"So, we export bulk of what we produce."

Key says New Zealand's dairy industry does this in "a completely unsubsidised way" and is still successful.

And part of the reason of this success is what companies like WMS do.

Key says WMS is driving innovation and technology and use of science.

"Anyone can milk cows and own big cows; the difficult issue to get level of production and productivity that that we getting."

Key also praised WMS for not only developing milking technology but exporting it around the world.

This is crucial to New Zealand's success, he says.

 

More like this

Editorial: Elusive India FTA

OPINION: Without doubt, a priority of the Government this year will be to gain traction on the elusive free trade deal with India.

Tariff risk

OPINION: Some commentators across the ditch reckon the second Trump administration's anticipated trade protectionism, coupled with China's economic fragility, poses a significant risk for Australia's agricultural export industries.

UAE trade deal - a game changer

OPINION: In a landmark move that could reshape New Zealand’s agricultural export landscape, the recently signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates opens up unprecedented opportunities for our farming and dairy sectors.

UAE FTA signed

New Zealand’s free trade deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has now been signed.

Featured

‘Nanobubble’ trial trims irrigation water usage

North Canterbury dairy farmer and recently-elected deputy chair of DairyNZ, Cameron Henderson, is enjoying a huge reduction in irrigation water use after converting a pivot irrigator to drag perforated drip tubes across the ground instead of elevated sprinkler heads.

Editorial: Elusive India FTA

OPINION: Without doubt, a priority of the Government this year will be to gain traction on the elusive free trade deal with India.

Sport star to talk at expo

Rugby league legend Tawera Nikau is set to inspire, celebrate and entertain at the East Coast Farming Expo's very popular Property Broker's Evening Muster.

National

Machinery & Products

Kuhn bags tech award

French company KUHN has won a EIMA Technical Innovation Award for its Baler Automation Technology.

Telescopic front-end loader

An interesting concept emerged at the recent EIMA show in Italy, where Italian company Aries - a front linkage manufacturer -…

AI-powered robotic feed pusher

While most New Zealand farmers operate with animals at pasture all year round, unlike their European counterparts, several operations in…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

'Bee wear' Simeon

OPINION: A keen pair of eyes wandering down the main street of the hub of the Horowhenua, Levin recently came…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter