MPI cuts 391 jobs
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.
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.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.