DIRA Review: Open Country Dairy Warns Against Regulatory "Complacency"
The country's second largest milk processor is warning against 'complacency' during a review of competition regulations in the dairy sector.
MPI is doing a needs assessment, but the Rural Support Trust, along with other agencies, is using its respective networks to double check that all those who need help will get it.
The chair of the Otago Rural Support Trust, Tom Pinckney, says he believes that they will be especially busy in the coming months as the enormity of the floods hit home.
He says the goal of the trust right now is to ensure that no farmers in need are overlooked.
He says MPI is doing a needs assessment, but the trust, along with other agencies is using its respective networks to double check that all those who need help will get it.
"The trust has had some but not a lot of, direct requests for help, but this isn't surprising, with farmers focused on their immediate need to clear and repair fences and in some cases tracks on their properties," he says.
Pinckney says farmers will also have to re-grass damaged pastures and assess stock losses.
He says some farmers in the worst hit areas may have lost between 10-15% of their lambs.
He says once farmers get their places back to normal and have time to assess what they are faced with, the issue of mental health will start to come to the fore.
He says that's why the trust is expecting the impacts of the floods to play out for some time with all sorts of pressures going on farmers.
OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.
The Southern Dairy Hub (SDH), which runs a demonstration farm for South Island farmers, has a new general manager.
Esther Guy-Meakin has been announced as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
According to a progress report on the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan (AHAP), New Zealand's horticulture sector is making real progress on the big issues facing growers.
A team effort that is paying dividends for the wider New Zealand economy.
A strong sense of community involvement is what propelled the Federated Farmers' North Canterbury president Bex Green to the honoured title of the Feds' Advocate of the Year 2026.

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