Sunday, 17 April 2016 18:08

25 new projects for SFF

Written by 
$6.9 million will be invested over three years in to 25 new projects through the Sustainable Farming Fund. $6.9 million will be invested over three years in to 25 new projects through the Sustainable Farming Fund.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has announced a $6.9 million investment over three years in to 25 new projects through the Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF).

Some of the problems or opportunities being looked in to:

• Optimising pollination of Gold3 kiwifruit under hail netting;

• Resource development for new entrant deer farmers;

• Reducing use of antimicrobials when managing mastitis;

• Understanding and managing grain storage pests;

• Increasing the market share for New Zealand olive oil.

The SFF supports farmers and researchers involved at grass-roots level to tackle shared problems or to develop new opportunities says MPI Director General, Martyn Dunne.

"Every year we receive a very high calibre of project applications, and this year was no different. This year's projects cover nine primary sectors including horticulture, forestry, dairy and meat.

"Each project has a number of milestones to reach over the three years. As milestones are reached, information is shared among the community who benefits from the project. Through the fund, we are able to support industries and communities to help each other carry out applied research and field trials.

"Our investment programmes team supports each project through their milestones and each year we are pleased by the quality of projects, and the results they produce."

More like this

Editorial: Happy days

OPINION: The year has started positively for New Zealand dairy farmers and things are likely to get better.

Stinging response

OPINION: MPI's response to the yellow-legged hornet has received a mixed report card from New Zealand Beekeeping Inc (NZBI), with praise for the Ministry's expansion of response funding and front-line efforts in Auckland, but a sting in the tail - criticising MPI for not focusing enough on regions outside the big smoke.

Featured

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Realpolitik!

OPINION: Meanwhile, red blooded Northland politician Matua Shane Jones has provided one of the most telling quotes of the year…

The Kiwi way

OPINION: This old mutt has been around for a few years now and it seems these ‘once in 100-year’ weather…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter