M.I.A.
OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released by the Treasury.
Meat companies have now put in place a set of protocols that will allow stock to be killed and processed during the COVID-19 lockdown.
These also meet the guidelines laid down by the Government in respect of the safety of workers at meat processing plants.
Meat Industry Association chief executive Tim Ritchie told Rural News that his organisation and MPI – along with others – have been working on developing the guidelines for several days.
Ritchie says the unions have been kept in the loop and meat companies have worked collaboratively to develop these new protocols.
However, he warns farmers that processing stock will take much longer – given the need to meet the new requirements around space between workers and so on.
Ritchie says this may affect sheep chains more because of distancing requirements. He says it could delay the process by up to 30% or more in some cases.
Delays will likely vary between plants. He says the meat companies have also agreed that if there are any problems at a certain plants, others will take up the slack.
Ritchie says staff at meat plants have also been briefed about how to deal with the situation and given advice on how to stay safe during the present crisis.
An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.
Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
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