BVD Control Begins Long Before You See A Problem
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is sometimes viewed as a dairy industry issue, but the reality is that the disease can have serious consequences for beef breeding herds as well.
Minister for Biosecurity Damien O’Connor wants every New Zealander to help build a biosecurity team of 4.7 million as part of the Ko Tātou This Is Us campaign.
Ko Tātou This Is Us is an independent biosecurity brand that aims to connect all of us with the many ways we can help protect Aotearoa from pests and diseases.
“With biosecurity in the spotlight as we attempt to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis, turn away ships to keep the Brown marmorated stink bug out of New Zealand, and deal with the emergence and spread of Myrtle rust and Kauri dieback, now is the time for every New Zealander to stand up and take action on biosecurity,” O’Connor said.
“Biosecurity keeps safe everything that shapes our unique way of life, from the great outdoors we farm, fish, hunt and play in to the biodiversity of our unique ecosystems.”
The campaign includes a beautiful and thought-provoking video, featuring a kuia looking back on her life and urging New Zealanders to understand that everything that shapes our way of life is finite and fragile and that we must all play our part in protecting it from pests and diseases.
It also focuses on appropriate biosecurity behaviours and actions in three core areas: moving people and goods, vigilance and readiness, and pest and disease control.
O’Connor thanked those who have shared their own personal connection to biosecurity as part of this campaign, such as Pro XC Mountain Bike racer and Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Anton Cooper, owner of the largest cooking school in Australasia Sachie Nomura, and Big Angry Fish hosts Milan Radonich and Nathan O’Hearn.
“Together we can make a difference. Together we can keep Aotearoa safe from pests and diseases. Ko Tātou This Is Us,” O’Connor said.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
Ravensdown shareholders have elected Jane Montgomery and Kate Acland to the Ravensdown Board for three-year terms, following a closely contested director election.
Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.