Select committee 'blew it' - Feds
Sheep and beef farmers are urging the Government to do more to stop productive farmland overrun by pine trees.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has appointed Mark Polson as its new Associate Director on the board, commencing 1 November.
Polson runs Waipuna Farms, his family’s sheep and beef farming business, which has 25,000 stock across three properties in the Whanganui region.
After ten years of corporate and general management roles in the New Zealand agribusiness sector, he returned to the grassroots farming of his family farm.
“I am looking forward to developing my governance skills through the Associate Director role and bringing my experience to add value at a national level through our key industry body, as we navigate to grow and sustain a profitable future for our sector,” says Polson.
B+LNZ chair Kate Acland says Polson will make a welcome addition to the team.
“We had a strong response to our call for applications to this fixed-term role and were really impressed by the calibre of young leaders looking to step up and help in the governance of our sector,” says Acland.
“Mark will bring a mix of hands-on farming experience along with a strong background in agricommerce,” she says. “His collaborative leadership and strategic thinking skills, coupled with a passion to further our rural communities, will be a great addition to the B+LNZ Board and we hope this experience will help him further his ambitions to serve our sector.”
Polson joins a board of six farmer-elected directors, two meat industry-appointed directors and one independent director.
Following recent storms in the region, the 69th edition of the Tour of Southland cycling event has been postponed.
A function at Parliament on 7th October brought together central government decision-makers, MPs, industry stakeholders and commercial partners to highlight the need for strategic investment in the future of Fieldays and its home, the Mystery Creek Events Centre campus.
The Government's revised 2050 biogenic methane target range of 14-24% by 2050 is being welcomed by dairy farmers.
An increasing number of students are doing agricultural and horticultural degrees at Massey University by distance learning.
ANZ New Zealand is encouraging farmers and businesses impacted by the recent extreme weather that hit Southland and South Otago last week to seek support if they need it.
When Professor Pierre Venter takes up his new role as vice chancellor at Massey University next February it will just be a matter of taking a few steps across the road to get to his new office at the Palmerston North Campus.

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