Waikato farmers tackle debt as interest rates fall, says Zonderop
Waikato Federated Farmers dairy chair Matthew Zonderop says two consecutive years of a $10 milk price is fantastic for New Zealand agriculture.
Federated Farmers is welcoming the arrest of a dual Filipino/New Zealand national on suspicion of facilitating fraud.
The fraud involved multiple work visa applications submitted by Filipino nationals in the dairy industry.
"The dairy industry is experiencing a shortage of skilled workers, and foreign nationals, like kiwis, are part of the solution, but this needs to be done in the right way," says Federated Farmers Dairy Industry chair Andrew Hoggard.
Federated Farmers say they recognise the importance of the additional measures recently undertaken by Immigration New Zealand to ensure documents submitted in support of visa applications for work in the dairy industry are genuine. The co-op note there are comments by the Immigration Minister that he is working with officials to ensure the dairy industry is not materially affected.
"Federated Farmers is confident that the processing of visa applications will soon return to a normal pace and that with government support New Zealand's dairy industry can train and attract skilled workers from within this country and overseas."
For the first time, all the big names in agricultural drone technology are being brought together under one marquee at the National Fieldays.
Fonterra has announced an improved third quarter performance – with a profit after tax of $1.15 billion, up $119 million on the same period last year.
The Fieldays Innovation Awards competition has attracted a diverse and impressive array of innovations from across the primary industries, highlighting the growing importance of technology shaping the future of farming.
Coming to the fore following the carnage of Cyclone Gabrielle, Starlink became well known for providing internet access even in NZ's most inaccessible places.
From this winter farmers will have a greater choice of feed types and blend options than ever before, thanks to Farmlands' purchase of animal nutrition company SealesWinslow.
Newly appointed National Fieldays chief executive Richard Lindroos says his team is ready, excited and looking forward to delivering the four-day event next month.
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