Green but not much grass!
Dairy farmers in the lower North Island are working on protecting next season, according to Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre, who farms just north of the Horowhenua township of Levin.
A top-level primary industries taskforce will work through Brexit issues, the Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy told Federated Farmers.
He and Trade Minister Todd McClay and officials from MPI and MFAT plus people from DCANZ, Beef + Lamb NZ, the Meat Industry Association and Feds will steer the 'flexible' group advising and supporting formal government action.
Guy singled out biosecurity, calling on all New Zealanders to help protect the country from problem diseases and pests. He urged all primary producers to farm responsibly and he praised farmers for supporting the new bobby calf regulations.
"I acknowledge dairy farmers in particular have come a long way, investing $1 billion in the last five years to upgrade effluent handling on farms. And 96% of waterways on dairy farms are now fenced [but] you don't get acknowledged enough for what you have done.
"Now we want to work constructively with the beef sector on more fencing regulations. Consumers are more connected to what's happening inside the farmgate and our international markets are demanding more from us."
Guy called for an end to the "blame game" over water quality, a subject also touched on by Feds' president William Rolleston, who says farmers and townsfolk need to talk positively and work together to find solutions.
He accused news media of not focusing on good news. "I feel frustrated that the good news is so hard to get out and that bad news travels so easily. Some fantastic things are happening, but you don't see them splashed around the papers.
"The general public has always seen agriculture as being in a good space, but listen to the noise out there in media land and you probably get a different impression."
Rolleston says overall the mood of farmers is better than expected given the dairy payout, as evident at Fieldays. And he is pleased to see more younger people becoming active in Feds.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.