Help available for flood-hit farmers
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.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has so far refused to name the importer that owns the cargo of palm kernel extract currently banned from entering the country via Tauranga Port.
However, sources at the port have told Rural News Group that it belongs to American-owned company ADM, a relatively small player in the local feed market.
The 23,000 tonne shipment was blocked by MPI because it came from an unregistered facility not approved by the Malaysian Government. MPI says the importer has applied to discharge the PKE but that it must first prove the cargo is not a biosecurity risk.
At the time of writing ADM could not be contacted for comment.
Meanwhile the two main PKE importers – Fonterra and J Swap Stockfoods - have moved to assure customers that the non-compliant shipment is not theirs.
Matamata-based J Swap Stockfoods emailed their customers with this message yesterday: “We would like to take this opportunity to assure all our customers that this cargo and vessel was neither purchased nor chartered by Swap Stockfoods. Furthermore all palm kernel purchased by Swap Stockfoods come from MPI approved suppliers and meet MPI requirements. “
Fonterra’s board has been reduced to nine - comprising six farmer-elected and three appointed directors.
Five hunting-related shootings this year is prompting a call to review firearm safety training for licencing.
The horticulture sector is a big winner from recent free trade deals sealed with the Gulf states, says Associate Agriculture Minister Nicola Grigg.
Fonterra shareholders are concerned with a further decline in the co-op’s share of milk collected in New Zealand.
A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.
Free workshops focused on managing risk in sharefarming got underway last week.
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