Open letters
OPINION: Your old mate isn't really a fan of the recent trend toward collective whinging, otherwise known as an 'open letter'.
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor along with Prime Minister Chris Hipkins launched the SOPI report at Fieldays.
O'Connor, forever the optimist, described the SOPI report as impressive given the tough times the primary sector has endured in the past 12 months. He says it's shown resilience and resourcefulness to get where it has. He says there will be headwinds, but NZ will handle these based on the solid foundations that already exist.
"We have always undershot with our forecasts, and I believe because farmers are innovative and adapt I think we will continue to grow our exports," he says.
A feature of the report says O'Connor is a focus on what is described as 'hyper traceability': identifying more precisely what's happening in the marketplace. He says this shows that there are expectations both from the supermarkets and the consumers who are now using a QR code to find out exactly where their products are coming from. He says all those in the primary sector need to be aware of the implications of this.
At the launch, PM Hipkins acknowledged the difficult couple of years the primary sector has been through, saying the objective of his government is to get rural communities back on their feet. He says there is reason for optimism and he spent much time talking up the benefits of the FTA with the UK.
"For the first time since the early 1970s our meat and dairy sectors have meaningful access to the UK market. The FTA also opens the door for increased collaboration in the agritech space in which NZ is a world leader. In a changing world, agritech has never been so important because it offers possibilities to improve farm efficiency, increase sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint of agriculture."
OPINION: Most people will be aware of the Government's plans to boost coal, oil and gas production to meet energy requirements.
AgriZeroNZ has entered a new partnership with Britain's national innovation agency, Innovate UK.
Twenty rural community hubs across New Zealand will receive $5,000 to upgrade their facilities having been selected as the winners of Rabobank's Community Hub Competition.
As the dairy industry prepares to celebrate its top achievers at an awards night this Saturday, attendees are being warned to be aware of protests planned outside the venue – Baypark Arena, Mount Mauganaui.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (BLNZ) says the release of New Zealand's latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory clearly shows agriculture is playing its part in emissions reductions and there is no need for a price on agricultural emissions.
While opening the first electrode boiler at its Edendale site, Fonterra has announced a $70 million investment in two further new electrode boilers.
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