2026 Meat Industry Association scholarship applications open
Applications have now opened for the 2026 Meat Industry Association scholarships.
 MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva is calling on the Government to prioritise the meat sector workforce for Covid-19 vaccinations.
		  	
		  
		  		  
		  MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva is calling on the Government to prioritise the meat sector workforce for Covid-19 vaccinations.
		  
		  
		  
	  New Zealand's meat processing and exporting industry is calling on the Government to prioritise its workforce for Covid-19 vaccinations.
Meat Industry Association (MIA) chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says the processing sector was recognised as a high-risk industry for transmission of the virus, due to the large numbers of people working closely together. She says Australia and the United States have already prioritised meat processing workers for vaccination because Covid-19 spread extremely rapidly in processing plants.
“US research has found that processing plants acted as transmission vectors, accelerating the spread of the virus into the surrounding population,” she says. “The New Zealand red meat industry took decisive action to proactively develop and implement safety protocols, which provide guidance and a minimum standard to enable our processors to continue safely operating.”
Karapeeva says there is no room for complacency. She says it’s absolutely critical that NZ fortifies its first line of defence. Both for the safety and wellbeing of its workers and communities and to safeguard the red meat sector’s significant contribution to the New Zealand economy, which is now heavily reliant on our export revenue.
“Most processors have nurses on site or arrangements with local medical centres, so are well positioned to undertake large scale vaccination programmes quickly,” she says.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.

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