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.
Dairy farmers must review their budgets line by line says DairyNZ economist Matthew Newman.
Close scrutiny of budgets is crucial so farmers can identify any possible savings, he says.
“Many farmers will be doing that, whereas in the past four or five years they haven’t needed to do it to the same extent. They must take a hard-nose approach and ask ‘what can I do without? Can I pull back fertiliser and feed and what are the long-term implications of doing that? There are many things to consider when determining where to make savings.”
Newman says he knows low-producing cows are still being culled -- more than in previous years. Slow pasture growth in many regions is making farmers conscious of feed levels. If things don’t improve soon dairy farmers may have to feed PKE at a cost they would rather not bear.
“The cow cull brings a small injection of cash but not huge money -- about $1000. And there are some savings in not having to feed those animals.” Future mating costs are also saved, he points out.
Meanwhile DairyNZ’s general manager for extension, Andrew Reid, reports lots of requests for advice – some on budgeting and on farm systems. On the budgeting issues they mostly refer the farmers to other rural professionals, but they advise on farm systems.
“Farmers are scrutinising their farm systems and this goes hand in hand with budget advice for the most sustainable system longer term.
“Rather than looking at the next three-six months, people are looking out longer to make sure that if they go through a downturn in another five years they have a resilient farm system that will let them ride it out. This is becoming a topical issue on farms now.”
DairyNZ has comparative budgets on its website for farmers to look at for guidance or to benchmark themselves against others.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will be fronting farmers at three large public meetings organised by Federated Farmers over the coming weeks.
Federated Farmers and a major Australian-owned bank are at loggerheads over emissions reduction targets set for New Zealand farmer clients.
More locally grown tomatoes are coming to stores this month and you can thank New Zealand greenhouses for that.
Changing skill demands and new job opportunities in the primary sector have prompted Massey University to create a new degree course and add a significant major into another in 2025.
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.
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