Editorial: Support, don't stifle farmers
OPINION: Ministry for Primary Industries' situation outlook for primary industries report (SOPI) makes impressive reading.
The Ministry for Primary Industries has confirmed a fourth fruit fly in Grey Lynn and believes it to be part of the same localised population as previous detections.
A single male Queensland fruit fly was found on Sunday in a trap inside the existing Controlled Area.
There are no changes to the Controlled Area as a result of the find at this stage, says MPI chief operations officer Andrew Coleman.
"We have been expecting to find more flies, so the latest detection is no surprise, and confirms that the trapping systems continues to be successful.”
"The find was close to the original detections, so we believe the fly is likely to be part of the same population."
MPI has so far trapped three male fruit flies. A single unmated female was located at a residential property on Friday.
MPI and its response partners, including GIA signatories KVH and PipfruitNZ, have moved quickly to respond to the fruit fly threat.
MPI currently has more than 180 staff working in the field on the response.
The response involves the use of movement controls, traps, public awareness, and treatment. While stricter controls continue at New Zealand’s borders.
Ground staff have laid bait in the Controlled Area and completed ground-based spraying under the fruiting trees where positive finds have been made.
"We continue to appreciate the outstanding public support we have received for our movement controls," says Coleman.
"We have every confidence that our measures will effectively eradicate this population.”
Restrictions in Place
Two butcheries have claimed victory at the 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards for 2025.
A Taupiri farming company has been convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment.
The Climate Change Commission’s 2025 emissions reduction monitoring report reveals steady progress on the reduction of New Zealand’s climate pollution.
Another milestone has been reached in the fight against Mycoplasma bovis with the compensation assistance service being wound up after helping more than 1300 farmers.
The Government’s directive for state farmer Landcorp Farming (trading as Pamu) to lifts its performance is yielding results.
The move to bring bovine TB testing in-house at Ospri officially started this month, as a team of 37 skilled and experienced technicians begin work with the disease eradication agency.
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