OSPRI writes off $17m over botched traceability system
Animal disease management agency OSPRI has written off nearly $17 million after a botched attempt to launch a new integrated animal disease management and traceability system.
Central Otago deer farmer and veterinarian Amanda (Mandy) Bell has been elected chair of the Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) board.
Managing director of First Light Foods, Gerard Hickey, has been elected deputy chair.
At a meeting in Wellington earlier this month, two new producer appointees, Hamish Fraser, South Canterbury, and Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Waikato, were also welcomed to the board - replacing Mark Harris and former chair Ian Walker who have retired.
Bell says there is a large untapped potential for profitable venison production on drystock farms.
"The industry's response to the Covid pandemic has been focused on building market opportunities. We now have a much greater spread of markets and market segments than ever before and with those, we can offer much greater income security to venison producers."
She added that the board also recognised the value that velvet adds to the industry.
"This is true, even on venison operations, where velvet from spikers and sire stags adds significantly to the economics of farming deer."
Bell says DINZ will be continuing to support producers with policy advocacy where needed.
Bell is co-owner of Criffel Station, Wanaka and has commercial interests in animal health product importing and trading companies. She has also been involved in the development of several major deer industry initiatives. These include the Passion2Profit programme that has been instrumental in the development of new venison markets; the deer progeny test that has greatly strengthened DeerSelect, the industry's genetic database; and DeerPRO, that detects and manages Johne's disease in deer.
Bell and husband Jerry (who has previously served as a DINZ board member) farm 6,000 deer at Criffel Station. Their other business interests include tourism and property development.
Newly appointed National Fieldays chief executive Richard Lindroos says his team is ready, excited and looking forward to delivering the four-day event next month.
More than 70 farmers from across the North and South Islands recently spent a dayand- a-half learning new business management and planning skills at Rabobank Ag Pathways Programmes held in Invercargill, Ashburton and Hawera.
Government ministers cannot miss the ‘SOS’ – save our sheep call - from New Zealand farmers.
A tax advisory specialist is hailing a 20% tax deduction to spur business asset purchases as a golden opportunity for agribusiness.
Sheep and beef farmers have voted to approve Beef + Lamb New Zealand signing an operational agreement between the agricultural sector and the Government on foot and mouth disease readiness and response.
The head of the New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers organisation NZKGI says the points raised in a report about the sector by Waikato University professor Frank Scrimgeour were not a surprise.
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