Dairy power
OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.
Beef + Lamb NZ chief executive Sam McIvor says it has been a challenging year for many in the sector, so it is important to take the time to recognise the people, innovations and technologies within the industry.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has announced the finalists for its 2023 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards.
B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor says the judging team had a difficult task given the calibre of the entries in the eight award categories and, after much deliberation, came up with a list of finalists.
“The judges commented about the quality of the entries which reflected the depth of talent, skills and knowledge within our red meat sector,” says McIvor.
He says it has been a challenging year for many in the sector, so it is important to take the time to recognise the people, innovations and technologies within the industry.
He says B+LNZ, along with Awards partner Farmlands and the awards category sponsors, is looking forward to hearing the winners announced at the awards dinner at Christchurch’s Te Pae Convention Centre on 19 October.
“I hope anyone with an interest in the red meat sector, entrants, nominees, and nominators will join the finalists sponsors to celebrate excellence in our industry,” he says.
“This will be one of the industry events of the year – and not to be missed.”
Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards Finalists
Ballance Agri-Nutrients Science and Research Award
Datamars Livestock Technology Award
Gallagher Innovation Farming Award
Silver Fern Farms Market Leader Award
AgResearch Emerging Achiever Award
Rabobank People Development Award
FMG Rural Champion Award
Alliance Significant Contribution Award
As the sector heads into the traditional peak period for injuries and fatalities, farmers are being urged to "take a moment".
Federated Farmers says almost 2000 farmers have signed a petition launched this month to urge the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is underway with approximately 33 million trays, or 118,800 tonnes, expected this year from orchards throughout France, Italy, Greece, Korea, and Japan.
Animal owners can help protect life-saving antibiotics from resistant bacteria by keeping their animals healthy, says the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
According to analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA), New Zealand red meat exports reached $827 million in October, a 27% increase on the same period last year.
The black and white coat of Holstein- Friesian cows is globally recognised as a symbol of dairy farming and a defining trait of domestic cattle. But until recently, scientists didn’t know which genes were responsible for the Holstein’s spots.

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