Editorial: Agri's mojo is back
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
MPI boss Ray Smith has appealed to all those involved in food and beverage processing to be meticulous about hygiene.
He says people working in these essential industries during the COVID-19 crisis are doing an amazing job. Smith emphasises that it is so important for them, and New Zealand, to observe the new and much higher health standards.
He says in meat processing plants and packhouses people need to abide by the social distancing rules, but if for any specific reasons they can’t he says they should limit these to a minimum and document them.
“In a packhouse you might have 500 people in it to maintain level a of production. The meats works are covered by specific protocols and the dairy industry has quite sophisticated, large operations,” Smith told Rural News.
“The hygiene factors in these areas are so high that introducing additional measures is something they have taken to quite well.”
Smith reiterates the need for washing hands and keeping hands away from your face. He also points out that it is important for workers to stay in their bubble if they have a bubble at home and bubble at work – and not to introduce anyone else into those bubbles.
“That’s when you run the risk of not being able to trace the disease and risk contamination,” he says.
MPI says is getting its messages out through its website, other industry organisations and the rural media.
Smith says he doesn’t underestimate the communication challenge the rural community is facing – especially with variable quality broadband and lack of cell phone communication in some areas.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding…
OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?