Dairy power
OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.
The nationwide Agribusiness in Schools programme recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary.
Since its pilot at Hamilton’s St Paul’s College in 2013, the programme has been offered at over 120 schools across New Zealand and to more than 4,000 students.
Both Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and DairyNZ are principle partners in the programme.
Olivia Weatherburn, B+LNZ national extension programme manager, says the programme has been a “game changer”, adding that it is equipping students to be involved in the food and fibre industry while helping teachers promote the sector.
The programme evolved out of a 2013 St Paul’s parents survey that demonstrated parents wanted more support for its rural students in encouraging them to pathways into the primary sector.
“Due to its widespread success, the programme not only has shown rural students what careers they can have within the industry, it has also helped to positively change both school and community perceptions of the primary sector,” Weatherburn says.
The academic agribusiness in schools course offered at NCEA Levels 2 and 3 (years 12 and 13) is designed to expose students to a wide array of skills required and the opportunities available in the primary sector beyond the farm gate.
“What is great about this initiative is that it is in partnership with the Ministry of Education, NZQA and the primary industries to ensure we equip our future sector workers with the right skills.”
“Overall, the programme is increasing trainee teacher numbers and teacher capability across agribusiness which is a win win for our sector and the food and fibre industry as a whole,” says Weatherburn.
Federated Farmers supports a review of the current genetic technology legislation but insists that a farmer’s right to either choose or reject it must be protected.
New Zealand’s top business leaders are urging the US Administration to review “unjustified and discriminatory tariffs” imposed on Kiwi exporters.
New tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump signal an uncertain future, but New Zealand farmers know how to adapt to changing conditions, says Auriga Martin, chief executive of Farm Focus.
A global trade war beckons, which is bad news for a small open economy like New Zealand, warns Mark Smith ASB senior economist.
Carterton's Awakare Farm has long stood as a place where family, tradition and innovation intersect.
Fonterra says the US continues to be an important market for New Zealand dairy and the co-op.