increase font size
Damien O’Connor.
Agricultural Minister Damien O’Connor claims at least 2000 farmers will be helped with on-the-ground support to lift their environmental sustainability as part of Budget 2019 funding.
At Fieldays, last week, O’Connor joined Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to detail the $229 million Sustainable Land Use Budget package.
“More than $35m will go towards providing practical advice, information and tools for farmers and growers to improve their operations on the ground,” O’Connor said. “This funding goes hand in hand with a regulatory package designed to improve the environmental outcomes of land use.
“An important part of this is extension – pulling together clusters of farmers and growers in different regions to share information, insights and advice with like minded people who understand local issues.”
O’Connor says he want two extension clusters under way by September, with another rollout later in 2019 and in 2020.
“Over the next four years, up to 2200 farmers in targeted catchments and regions will have the direct on-the-ground support needed to lift their environmental sustainability and boost their bottom line.”
Some $12m has been committed to “support” Māori landowners and agribusinesses to get “greater value and sustainability from their land”. Meanwhile, $43m more is assigned to upgrade Overseer.
“The funding will help to improve the accuracy of Overseer’s modelled estimates and boost the range of farm systems and conditions it models,” O’Connor claims.
This and initiatives already under way will help develop integrated farm plans to make life easier for farmers.
“We want to develop a more streamlined approach for farm planning, incorporating biosecurity, animal welfare, food safety and health and safety.”
OPINION: After Jacinda Ardern and Labour were asked to form the government following the 2017 elections, Federated Farmers sent an email out to its executives asking if any of them had a working relationship with any Labour MPs. The answer was no one did.
Federated Farmers have reiterated their support for the coalition Government to abolish the present ban on the live export of animals.
As the coalition Government mulls new regulations to reinstate the export of live animals, debate is heating up between supporters and opponents.
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.
As the new government considers lifting the ban on live exports, protestors are set to demonstrate against the policy.
The Neogen World Angus Forum, a major event in global Angus beef industry, is set to return in 2025.
Whatever an animal is raised for, it deserves a good life — and just as importantly, a “good death”.
North Canterbury dairy farmer and recently-elected deputy chair of DairyNZ, Cameron Henderson, is enjoying a huge reduction in irrigation water use after converting a pivot irrigator to drag perforated drip tubes across the ground instead of elevated sprinkler heads.
OPINION: Without doubt, a priority of the Government this year will be to gain traction on the elusive free trade deal with India.
Rugby league legend Tawera Nikau is set to inspire, celebrate and entertain at the East Coast Farming Expo's very popular Property Broker's Evening Muster.
Fonterra has announced $15 million in investments in electrification projects across the North Island over the next 18 months.
OPINION: Back in the 1960s and '70s, and even into the '80s, successive National government Agriculture Ministers and Trade Ministers…
OPINION: The new Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche has just had the hallelujah moment of the 21st century in…
