MPI defends cost of new biosecurity lab
The head of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity operation, Stuart Anderson, has defended the cost and the need for a Plant Healht and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) being built in Auckland.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy will attend agricultural conferences on a four-day trip to Australia and China.
Today Guy travels to Beijing to attend and speak at the Development Research Centre (DRC)'s Food Security and Food Safety Strategy Summit.
"The DRC is a government policy, research and consulting institution that focuses on China's economic and social development," says Guy.
"This conference is a good opportunity to build closer links with China and outline how our two countries can work together on issues of food and agricultural policy."
On Monday he visits Hong Kong to meet with New Zealand companies, and a meeting with the Hong Kong Jockey Club. New Zealand race horses are one of our most important exports to Hong Kong with exports worth $29 million in the most recent year.
He departed yesterday and is back in New Zealand on Tuesday 17 November.
Fonterra Edendale has been recognised with the Mars Dairy Supplier Quality Award for the top performing supplier sites in the global food company's dairy supply chain.
Sheep milk processor Maui Milk has achieved grass-fed certification of milk supply against the AsureQuality Grass-Fed Scheme.
OPINION: What goes up must come down. So, global dairy prices retreating from lofty heights in recent months wouldn’t come as a surprise to many farmers.
Fonterra directors and councillors are in for a pay rise next month.
Federated Farmers says it is cautiously welcoming signals from the Government that a major shake-up of local government is on its way.
Ashburton cropping and dairy farmer Matthew Paton has been elected to the board of rural services company, Ruralco.