RWNZ chief executive to step down
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) chief executive Gabrielle O’Brien will step down at the end of June.
New Zealand farmers are being urged to carry on producing food while respecting coronavirus guidelines issued by the Government.
Federated Farmers dairy chairman Chris Lewis says farming is classified as an essential service, so is milk and meat processing.
Lewis says that meat and dairy companies will continue to operate as the country moves into the highest level of alert for coronavirus from midnight Wednesday.
Lewis says the message to farmers is to carry on producing food while respecting the guidelines.
“We are good at producing food and the world needs food.”
Lewis says farmers are being urged to keep reasonable distance from visitors and avoid face-to-face interaction.
“Farmers will get tanker drivers, vets and technicians coming up their driveways.
“As farmers working alone, we sometimes crave for interaction with people but this is a serious situation and we must respect the guidelines issued by the PM.”
The Government has lifted coronavirus alert to Level 3 and is moving to Level 4 in 48 hours.
Lewis says the Prime Minister has spoken to Feds president Katie Milne.
He said all farmer organisatons- DairyNZ, Feds, DCANZ, MIA, Beef and Lamb NZ and meat and dairy processors are working hard to keep farmers informed.
“These are trying times; most people are working from home but there is a lot of hard work underway to keep farmers in the loop.”
“We are all in this together; let’s keep in touch by phone, text, email and social media with each other.”
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.