Feds support live animal exports
Federated Farmers have reiterated their support for the coalition Government to abolish the present ban on the live export of animals.
A total of 34 graduate vets will be placed in rural areas this year, from Northland to Southland, through the Government's Voluntary Bonding Scheme for Veterinarians (VBS).
The successful recipients will each receive funding of $55,000 over five years, in a bid to help ease the shortage of vets working with production animals in the regions.
"It's well known that there's a real need for vets, especially in rural areas," Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor says.
"Since it began 12 years ago, the Voluntary Bonding Scheme for Veterinarians has made a big difference in attracting and retaining graduate vets to rural communities that can be challenging to recruit staff to.
O'Connor syas the scheme supports New Zealand to maintain its world-class standards in biosecurity, animal welfare and food safety.
"Through this funding, we aim to ensure we have the best care for production animals and working dogs across the country."
Since 2009 when the VBS programme began, 384 graduate vets have been funded to start their careers working with production animals in rural practice.
"The scheme sits alongside other programmes we're investing in to address skills challenges in rural New Zealand," O'Connor adds.
BNZ says it is backing aspiring dairy farmers through an innovative new initiative that helps make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking a little easier.
LIC chief executive David Chin says meeting the revised methane reduction targets will rely on practical science, smart technology, and genuine collaboration across the sector.
Lincoln University Dairy Farm will be tweaking some management practices after an animal welfare complaint laid in mid-August, despite the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigation into the complaint finding no cause for action.
A large slice of the $3.2 billion proposed capital return for Fonterra farmer shareholders could end up with the banks.
Opening a new $3 million methane research barn in Waikato this month, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay called on the dairy sector to “go as fast as you can and prove the concepts”.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.

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