$20m facial eczema research funding announced
Government and the red meat sector are teaming up to help eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmed animals.
Beef + Lamb NZ and WorkSafe NZ are at odds over some aspects of quad safety.
BLNZ chairman James Parsons says he’s continually fielding calls from farmers who are fearful, confused and even angry at WorkSafe’s approach to the issue.
Last week, quad safety was on the agenda at the BLNZ board meeting in Wellington. Parsons told Rural News all its field days are now under threat because of WorkSafe’s approach.
“I can’t put my hand on heart and say that adopting the measures proposed for quad use will make farms safer. Is it right to embrace blanket bans that make farms less safe?
“Farms are not just places of work; they are homes. Is confining children, bank managers, vets and visitors to the farmhouse sensible when quads on hill country are the only practical mode of transport? Despite having a good safety record many of our BLNZ hill country field days are now under threat.”
Parsons believes the way to improve safety on farms is via a safety culture and a common sense farm code of practice devised by farmers for farmers.
“We are absolutely supportive of farmer safety and spend a lot of time at field days promoting safe farming environments. The aspirations of WorkSafe to improve the safety record on farms is positive and we have engaged constructively with them on multiple occasions,” he adds.
The controversy has arisen again partly because WorkSafe says it will apply strict rules to the field days to be held soon on the farms of the three finalists in the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition. Attendees have heard that no passengers may be carried on quads and that riders must wear helmets.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.
Rural trader PGG Wrightson has revised its operating earnings guidance, saying trading conditions have deteriorated since the last market update in February.
It's been a bumper season for maize and other supplements in the eastern Bay of Plenty.
Leading farmers from around New Zealand connected to share environmental stories and inspiration and build relationships at the Dairy Environment Leaders (DEL) national forum in Wellington last month.
AgriZeroNZ, a joint venture fast-tracking emissions reduction tools for farmers, is pouring $5 million in a biotech company to develop a low emissions farm pasture with increased productivity gains.
Fonterra is teaming up with wealth app provider Sharesies to make it easier for its farmer shareholders to trade co-op shares among themselves.