DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb NZ wrap up M. bovis compensation support after $161M in claims
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Feedback is positive from clients who have tried PGG Wrightson’s new bidr online auction system, says Waikato PGW livestock agent Dean Evans.
Evans, who has already used bidr for a few lines of livestock, says it’s user friendly, not overly complicated and will make a big difference for users.
“Because of what’s happening with M. bovis there are clients out there who basically don’t want to send their cattle to a saleyards and want to try an alternative,” he told Rural News.
“To have their cattle stay on their property, be in control of the animals, not having to pay cartage and that sort of thing, it will certainly make a difference to people.”
Described as an “innovative rural trading channel,” bidr.co.nz was unveiled at Fieldays following a “soft” launch that had seen it already used for several online auctions over the past several weeks.
It was developed by PGW in consultation with customers and key partners and is initially focused on livestock. However, in future, it is hoped to enable farmers and agents to bid, buy and sell all things rural online.
PGW says it has already achieved strong results in feature livestock sales (including stud bull sales, store lamb, store bull and dispersal sales). The company says it will continue to extend its livestock product and service offering with weekly auctions from July 2.
PGW general manager livestock and bidr chair Peter Moore says the online system was developed over several years to get it right.
“The input from our agents, customers and strategic partners during the development process provided us with valuable insight,” he says.
“This collaborative approach allowed us to deliver this new channel successfully and we are pleased at how well the market is embracing this new technology.”
Moore says the global livestock market’s constant change has a significant flow on effect to the New Zealand market and PGW’s business. “bidr is an example of PGW’s focus on technical excellence and innovation, along with future-proofing our business to add value to our customers’ farming operations.”
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.