Tuesday, 30 March 2021 15:38

Foot in mouth

Written by Milking It

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: A mate of Milking It recently opined that Ag Minister Damien O'Connor is a sitter for the moniker 'Minister of Foot in Mouth Disease' after yet another clumsy public statement.

He has now followed this gaffe in a speech he gave at the CD field days - no doubt trying to pander to his farming audience - by kicking tourism while it's down, Covid-19, he said, has taught the tourism industry "not to be so cocky" after it conceded to dairy as our top export earner.

Towns dependent on tourism are dying and need government assistance, not a kick in the guts.

More like this

Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade

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.

Synthetic milk

Synthetic milk

OPINION: Will synthetic milk derail NZ's economy?

It's all about economics

OPINION: According to media reports, the eye-watering price of butter has prompted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to ask for a 'please explain' from her former employer Fonterra.

Red line on dairy

OPINION: As India negotiates to open its borders to more global products, dairy is proving a sticky issue.

Farmland security

OPINION: Paranoia about foreigners is at an all-time high in the US and attention is now turning to foreign-owned farmland.

Popular Reads

Open Country opens butter plant

When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give…

MPI launches industry-wide project to manage feral deer

An industry-wide project led by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is underway to deal with the rising number of feral…

Hawke’s Bay farmers donate livestock to support rescue helicopter

A Hawke's Bay farming family of self-confessed 'frequent flyers' has donated the proceeds from their spring lambs.

Waituna Lagoon consent puts farms at risk, Federated Farmers Say

According to Federated Farmers, Environment Southland has mishandled the consent process for Waituna Lagoon, leaving the community with numerous bad…

US removes reciprocal tariff on NZ beef

Red meat farmers and processors are welcoming a US Government announcement - removing its reciprocal tariffs on a range of…

Featured

Competition snares over 33,000 wild goats

The National Wild Goat Hunting Competition has removed 33,418 wild goats over the past three years.

New healthcare model needed to address rates of rural obesity

New Zealand needs a new healthcare model to address rising rates of obesity in rural communities, with the current system leaving many patients unable to access effective treatment or long-term support, warn GPs.

Storm-damaged trees still causing havoc in Southland

Southland farmers are being urged to put safety first, following a spike in tip offs about risky handling of wind-damaged trees

Ashburton dairy farmers reinvent their system with return to spring calving

Third-generation Ashburton dairy farmers TJ and Mark Stewart are no strangers to adapting and evolving.

Open Country opens butter plant

When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.

Revamped Fonterra to be ‘more capital-efficient’

Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.

National

Fonterra directors set for pay rise pending AGM approval

Fonterra directors and councillors are in for a pay rise next month.

Rabobank 2026 Outlook: Geopolitics shapes global agriculture

The global agricultural landscape has entered a new phase where geopolitics – not only traditional market forces – will dictate…

McDonald’s NZ spends $235m on local farmers in 2024

Feeding more than 1.5 million people a week takes more than quick service, it takes the ongoing work of New Zealand…

Fonterra shaves 50c off forecast milk price

Fonterra has dropped its forecast milk price mid-point by 50c as a surge in global milk production is putting downward…

BNZ: $10 milk price now unlikely for 2025/26 season

The chance of a $10-plus milk price for this season appears to be depleting.

Machinery & Products

Case IH Unveils New RB6 Round Balers & 2026 Square Baler Upgrades

Case IH has released details of its all-new round balers and redesigns to its large square balers aimed at increasing…

How to Improve Milking Efficiency in Swing-Over Herringbone Sheds

The swing-over herringbone is the most common dairy type in New Zealand, used on 69% of dairy farms. Simple changes…

Claas Jaguar 1000 Series sets new forage harvesting world record

The recently released Claas Jaguar 1000 Series has seen its flagship 1200 set a new official Guiness World Record in…

CB Norwood appoints John Skurr as new general manager

CB Norwood Distributors Limited has announced the appointment of John Skurr to the position of general manager.

Polaris unveils mid-size utility side-by-side

Polaris Off Road has unveiled the 2026 Ranger 500, an all-new mid-size utility side-by-side aimed at bringing the quality and…

» Latest Print Issues Online

dairynewscover

ruralnewscover

winegrowercover

Milking It

Trump's tariffs

President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on imports into the US is doing good things for global trade, according…

Tanker on the roll

Seen a giant cheese roll rolling along Southland’s roads?

» eNewsletter