Youngest contestant proves age is no barrier
A Massey University student has inched closer to national victory after being crowned Taranaki-Manawatu's top young farmer, despite being the youngest competitor in the field.
A new collaboration effort, named Vet Futures Aotearoa, is seeking to solve the big issues faced by veterinary professionals, including labour shortages.
The organisation is driven by representatives from Massey University School of Veterinary Science, New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA), Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ), Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Allied Veterinary Professionals Regulatory Council (AVPRC), New Zealand Veterinary Nurses Association (NZVNA), as well as representatives from allied veterinary professional education.
NZVA chief executive Kevin Bryant says the new collaboration wants everyone involved in veterinary professions to contribute and give their perspectives on what the future might look like.
“Along with workforce development, we will be looking at how veterinary businesses maintain their viability, look after their people and continue to provide the best possible care. We’ll also be considering topics such as veterinary wellbeing, education, training and leadership,” Bryant says.
VCNZ chief executive Iain McLachlan says “a united and collaborative approach” is the only way to address the big issues being discussed by the group.
“We have to work together if we’re going to make a long-term difference for vets, allied professionals and those they serve.”
According to Jon Huxley, from the Massey University School of Veterinary Science, the group intends to move quickly and will be reporting regularly on its work.
“Being able to adequately fund an train the right number of veterinary professionals to future proof New Zealand is essential and has been brought to everyone’s attention by the Covid-19 border restrictions,” he says.
Vets, vet nurses and allied professionals are advised to keep an eye out for opportunities to get involved in Vet Futures and have their say on the issues discussed.
The 2025 South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) chairman, Rangiora farmer Andrew Stewart, is predicting a successful event on the back of good news coming out of the farming sector and with it a greater level of optimism among farmers.
WorkSafe New Zealand is calling on farmers to consider how vehicles move inside their barns and sheds, following a sentencing for a death at one of South Canterbury’s biggest agribusinesses.
Now is not the time to stop incorporating plantain into dairy pasture systems to reduce nitrogen (N) loss, says Agricom Australasia brand manager Mark Brown.
Building on the success of last year's events, the opportunity to attend People Expos is back for 2025, offering farmers the chance to be inspired and gain more tips and insights for their toolkits to support their people on farm.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser SustaiN – which contains a urease inhibitor that reduces the amount of ammonia released to the air – has now been registered by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI). It is the first fertiliser in New Zealand to achieve this status.
Precision application of nitrogen can improve yields, but the costs of testing currently outweigh improved returns, according to new research from Plant and Food Research, MPI and Ravensdown.
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