Crazy
OPINION: Your canine crusader was truly impressed by the almost unanimous support given by politicians of all stripes in Parliament to the recent passing of legislation for the NZ/EU free trade deal.
Community resilience and land management best-practice in South Canterbury will be bolstered through the Government’s funding of two farmer-led projects, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.
“We’re investing $610,000 in the Hakataramea Sustainability Collective to support landowners in the Hakataramea Valley to farm more sustainable and help improve community wellbeing,” O’Connor says.
“Our goals across New Zealand are to see rural communities thriving, the primary sector driving our economic recovery from Covid-19 and to put farming on a truly sustainable path. These goals all work in tandem together.”
O’Connor says catchment groups focus communities on restoring rivers and addressing climate change.
“In doing so, they weave stronger communities and build our exporting credentials.
“This funding will enable the collective to develop an integrated environmental plan specific to the 89,000-hectare Hakataramea catchment, and carry out demonstration projects.
“Landowners will be able to use catchment-specific resources and research to grow their skills and capability, and strengthen their individual Farm Environment Plans (FEPs).”
Hakataramea Sustainability Collective will receive $550000 for the catchment group project over three years.
The remaining $60,000 is additional funding allocated to the district’s Rural Community Hub, which the Collective received $30,000 to set up in early 2021.
O’Connor says the Hakataramea Sustainability Collective’s work reflected what was important to the area’s residents.
“The hub has got off to a flying start and other community-driven initiatives they’ve got lined up will add to the resilience and vibrancy of the area,” he says.
“It shows what people can achieve when they get together. Their focus on building understanding of biodiversity through the local school and upskilling people in disaster preparedness will have long-term benefits.”
The funding is on top of at least $8.4 million already allocated to support catchment groups and Rural Community Hubs across the wider Canterbury region by the Government.
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.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.