Government Amends Stock Exclusion Regulations for Low-Intensity Grazing
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.
Incoming Minister for Food Safety and Biosecurity Andrew Hoggard says he’s “really excited” to get those roles.
“Food safety and biosecurity are really important roles for a nation economically dependent on exporting safe and nutritious food,” he told Rural News.
Hoggard is also the Associate Minister for Agriculture overseeing animal welfare and skills. His roles are outside of Cabinet.
“The associate environment role will probably be where a lot of energy has to go in first up, as we deal with issues around the freshwater regulations,” he says.
Hoggard’s rise in national politics has been meteoric. Just six months ago, he was president of Federated Farmers and fighting on behalf of farmers against an avalanche of regulations lobbed by the previous Labour Government.
Hoggard resigned from Federated two months before his term was due to expire, after media reports linked him to an ACT Party ticket. The party confirmed his candidacy shortly after.
The Manawatu dairy farmer was ranked fifth on ACT’s list, ahead of sitting MPs.
New research suggests sheep and beef farmers could improve both profitability and emissions efficiency by increasing lamb weaning weights, with only marginal changes in total greenhouse gas emissions.
With six months until the election, Federated Farmers says the Government is running out of time to deliver its long-promised reform to the country's freshwater system.
Herd improvement company LIC has entered the Indonesian market.
Two forestry companies have been sentenced for road failures that led to the death of Coromandel truck driver Greg Stevens.
The situation in the Middle East has been a major influence on markets over recent months and the market for key farm inputs continues to move at pace, with pricing and availability shifting quickly across several key products, according to a major stockfood seller.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) has signed on to a formal complaint filed with the United Nations requesting an investigation into whether the government's changes to New Zealand's pay equity laws amounts to systemic discrimination against women.

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