Pāmu and Meet the Need Launch Mince Recipe Cards for Food Banks
A partnership between state-owned enterprise Pāmu (Landcorp Farming Limited) and charity Meet the Need is putting more than quality New Zealand beef into food bank parcels this year.
More than 130 of Australasia's leading agribusiness professionals will visit two farms in Pirinoa, South Wairarapa, next week.
The visit, on Wednesday, March 23, is part of the annual Platinum Primary Producers (PPP) 'Capital Connections; winds of change' Conference.
The delegation, which includes well-known industry leaders and commentators such as Steven Carden, CEO of Landcorp Farming Ltd, Prof. Jacqueline Rowarth from the University of Waikato, Malborough farmer, Doug Avery, and James Parsons, chairman of Beef + Lamb NZ, will spend time at the Warren family's Romney stud, Turanganui, and the Weatherstone family's dairy farm, Rotopai.
The field trip concludes a three day event in Wellington discussing the 'winds of change' currently sweeping across the farming landscapes of New Zealand and Australasia. A key component of the Wairarapa visit will be a fundraising event for Pirinoa rural school, which is hoping to upgrade its heat pumps and wifi system.
PPP chairman and local Wairarapa farmer, Shane McManaway, says the PPP Group, which comprises the most influential, positive and innovative agribusiness professionals in Australasia, is always committed to helping rural communities.
"We are visiting two spectacular farms in the tight knit, rural community of Pirinoa. Farms, which I am proud to say, demonstrate farming practices at their absolute best. And I can't think of a better way to show our appreciation than to support the local community hub – Pirinoa School."
The group hopes to raise between $5000 and $10,000 for the school, which will be catering and serving lunch for the delegates.
Where any worker in the kiwifruit industry is mistreated, we expect the authorities to take action.
Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers arable chair, Bevan Lill, said Beef + Lamb NZ data indicated that for the last six years, the average arable return on investment was about 0.8% while inflation ran about 4% - so the average arable farm was going backwards at about 3% a year.
Seed and grain companies share the concerns of arable farmers about the viability of their sector, says Seed and Grain New Zealand chief executive Dr Sarah Clark.
The New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) says unnecessary changes to New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) will seriously erode investor confidence and result in significant reductions in forest planting rates.
For the first time in a quarter of a century, Federated Farmers has something positive to say about the Labour Party’s climate change policy leading into a general election.
A warning for New Zealand seed and grain companies – be prepared for an exodus of farmers from the arable sector.

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