Fat to cut
OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an 8-hour marathon hearing.
Four new biosecurity x-ray machines have been installed this week at international airports to prevent passengers bringing unwanted pests or diseases to New Zealand.
The machines, which have been installed in Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown, will be used to scan baggage from overseas travellers for plant and animal products that pose biosecurity risk to New Zealand.
“The new x-rays are part of MPI’s ongoing commitment to strengthen New Zealand’s biosecurity system and are part of a larger programme to improve how we clear arriving air passengers,” says MPI detection technology manager Brett Hickman.
“The new machines will provide better reliability and increased capacity, along with improved image quality and functionality.
“This means border staff will be better equipped to spot biosecurity risk items before they enter New Zealand, and we will have the capacity to increase the level of screening during times of high alert.”
MPI has now installed 19 new x-ray machines around the country over the past three years.
MPI currently owns and operates 27 x-ray units at international airports, the Auckland International Mail Centre and military bases. This includes a trailer-mounted mobile x-ray in Auckland.
An additional new machine is earmarked for Wellington airport, and one more will shortly go into the International Mail Centre in Auckland, says Hickman.
“X-ray screening is one of a range of biosecurity tools we use to block destructive pests and diseases that could damage our primary industries and natural environment,” says Hickman.
Two of the four new x-ray machines installed this week are located in Auckland airport. The remaining two have gone to Christchurch and Queenstown.
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.
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