Bikinis in cowshed
OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.
MPI says while recent rains have brought welcome respite from dry weather in much of the country, farmers in drought-affected regions will feel the impact of El Niño for months.
The ministry is monitoring the weather closely and keeping ministers updated. It is also working through Rural Support Trust branches and industry groups to ensure support for farmers.
"In many drought-hit areas, particularly Canterbury and Marlborough, the rain was a great morale booster," says MPI's director of resource policy David Wansbrough.
"Crop farmers have had a better start to the year, as any good rainfall like this helps new crop growth. But where pasture has died from over a year of dry weather more rain will be needed to break the drought and it will be months before production recovers.
"Much of Otago was less lucky and didn't receive the rainfall of their northerly neighbours. In Strath Taieri some locals are saying it's the driest they have ever seen it."
Rural Support Trust reports that the financial and emotional impact of drought is starting to pinch some farmers. (Farmers and their families can contact their local Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254 for advice and information; or Federated Farmers feed line on 0800 376 844 to help get feed to drought-hit farms.)
"Increasingly dry Northland did particularly well out of this month's deluge, getting up to 80mm of rain, but has since been hammered by strong easterly winds which hasten soil drying and it can damage some crops."
MPI continues to monitor soil moisture deficits in the North Island, knowing many farmers are still recovering from the June 2015 storms in Taranaki and Whanganui.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
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