Editorial: Agri's mojo is back
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
This takes the current number of infected properties to 14 – nine in South Canterbury, three in Southland, one in Ashburton and one in Hawkes Bay.
Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) response incident controller David Yard says milk sampling carried out by the dairy industry just before Christmas revealed a suspected positive result; MPI’s Animal Health Laboratory testing has just confirmed this.
“The affected farm and an associated property have been under controls since Christmas Eve as a precautionary measure. No animals or other risk goods such as used farm equipment have been allowed on or off the property during this time and these controls stand,” Yard says.
There has been no sign of any illness in any of the approximately 600 animals on the property.
Yard says that as a result of the new find, MPI is now tracing animal movements on and off the farm to determine if there are links to other affected properties. MPI will now carry out checks and testing on some 30 other farms that have had some association with the new affected property.
“Farmers in the area who have had some connection with the affected property will be contacted and those who do not hear from us in the next couple of weeks should consider they are under no increased risk from this most recent detection. However, if they have concerns or questions, they can contact us on 0800 00 83 33 or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..”
MPI is also continuing tests on another Ashburton area farm that had previously returned inconclusive results. As yet, this farm is not regarded as positive, although it is under controls just in case.
“MPI and its industry partners in the response understand how worrying this new detection is to the farming community.
“Planning is underway for two public meetings in Methven and Ashburton on Thursday 11 January to outline the situation. In addition, the meetings will cover plans to test bulk milk and ‘discard milk’ (milk unsuitable for collection, e.g. from cows with mastitis) from farms in the area.”
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
Following heavy rain which caused flooding in parts of Nelson-Tasman and sewerage overflows in Marlborough, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging homeowners and tenants to be cautious when cleaning up and to take the right steps to support claims.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
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