Wednesday, 04 February 2015 00:00

New AgCarm chief

Written by 
Mark Ross AgCarm Mark Ross AgCarm

Agcarm – the industry association which represents crop protection, animal health and rural supplier businesses – has appointed Mark Ross as its new chief executive.

“Mark has a great understanding of industry issues, strong leadership ability, as well as advocacy and policy development experience,” says Agcarm president Mark Christie.  

Ross has an Executive MBA from Massey and agricultural qualifications from Lincoln University. He comes to Agcarm after seven years as general manager of policy and advocacy at Federated Farmers and prior to that worked for the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for 12 years.

“Mark has an understanding of relevant legislation such as the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, and extensive knowledge of the machinery of government.  

“He is also adept at developing policy and regulations, influencing decision makers and problem solving.” 

Ross has experience of orchard spray programmes and aerial spraying – having helped manage successful eradication programmes against the Asian gypsy moth and white-spotted tussock moth in the Waikato and Auckland regions.

Meanwhile, his involvement with animal health issues include Federated Farmer’s oversight of New Zealand cases of the blood-borne Theileria parasite and Cystericercus bovis, the larval stage of a species of tapeworm.  

He also contributes to the disease eradication programme, TBfree New Zealand, is involved in foot and mouth simulation exercises and is a member of the MPI-led Livestock Sector Biosecurity Group.

Ross starts his new role on February 9, replacing Graeme Peters who stepped down after seven years in the job.

More like this

Featured

$52,500 fine for effluent mismanagement

A Taupiri farming company has been convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment.

Ospri brings Bovine TB testing in-house

The move to bring bovine TB testing in-house at Ospri officially started this month, as a team of 37 skilled and experienced technicians begin work with the disease eradication agency.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Arable advocacy?

OPINION: Spare a thought for the arable farmer, squeezed on one side by soft global prices and on the other…

Gaslight much?

OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter