Ravensdown CEO takes out premier award
Ravensdown chief executive Greg Campbell has been named the 2019 Primary Industries Chief Executive of the Year at the inaugural Primary Industries Awards.
Australian Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Joe Ludwig is in New Zealand on a two-day visit.
He is meeting with Minister for Primary Industry David Carter this afternoon to kick off bilateral and primary industries meetings over the next two days.
Ludwig will travel with Primary Industries Ministers from NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
"This visit is a valuable opportunity to discuss two-way trade and issues in the primary sector that affect both Australia and New Zealand," says Carter.
While in Auckland, Ludwig will also chair the Standing Council on Primary Industries meeting.
"This meeting is attended by primary industries ministers from New Zealand and Australia and allows us to share approaches, ideas, and views on the challenges and opportunities facing the primary industries," says Carter.
"One of the issues we will discuss is the food sector opportunities available to both countries.
"By focusing on our food industries, New Zealand and Australia have the ability to increase productivity, innovate and add value to the domestic and export sector. There are opportunities in working together.
"We enjoy a strong relationship with Australia, our largest trading partner, and meetings such as this play an important role in enhancing primary sector collaboration between our two countries."
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson says his party – NZ First - isn’t opposed to the “trade element” of a free trade deal with India.
The managing director of a company seeking to build a solar farm in Canterbury says receiving fast-track approval is a “really positive outcome”.
Retiring MP and dairy farmer Mark Cameron is blasting the Green Party for proposing to ban the use of synthetic fertiliser and cutting cow numbers.
A huge reduction in ACC claims from on-farm accidents over the last five years is due to thousands of small, practical decisions being made in sheds, yards, paddocks and around kitchen tables across the country, says Safer Farms ambassador Lindy Nelson.
Wayne and Ange Moxham of Horowhenua have just been named as Fonterra's top organic performer for milksolids. As well as providing organic milk to Fonterra, the couple also sell Udderly Organic milk to more than 100 outlets in the region and are embarking on another exciting venture producing organic gelato. Reporter Peter Burke went along to see their farming operation.
Certainty and a clear understanding of the needs of rural communities is a critical outcome in the series of government reforms that are taking place at present.

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