Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade
When it comes to international trade, politicians from all sides of the aisle are united, says Labour's trade spokesman Damien O'Connor.
OPINION: The recent high-profile Mycoplasma bovis announcement from the Government in Hamilton featured Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor.
Also in tow were DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel and Beef + Lamb chair Andrew Morrison.
One farming leader noted how the mainstream media coverage showed no farming leaders at the event, which highlighted how close the country has come to eradicating the disease since it entered NZ about four years ago. He also noted that both farming leaders featured at the launch of the eradication plan four years ago.
Have farmers become fodder for the cannon like the young Russian conscripts in Ukraine?
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.
Fears of a serious early drought in Hawke’s Bay have been allayed – for the moment at least.