Crazy
OPINION: Your canine crusader was truly impressed by the almost unanimous support given by politicians of all stripes in Parliament to the recent passing of legislation for the NZ/EU free trade deal.
THE GOVERNMENT Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) scheme, currently under investigation by the Auditor-General, is failing to stem the tide of a declining red meat sector, says Damien O'Connor, Labour spokesperson for primary industries.
It must be reviewed, he says. "In spite of the Government spending half a million dollars on a red meat strategy in 2011 and now having committed over $350 million dollars of taxpayer and farmer money in PGP projects, dry stock numbers are declining resulting in a huge impact on rural New Zealand.
"The release of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment's report is further evidence of the dangers of the large scale conversion of dry stock to dairy farming in some regions.
"Primary Industries Minister, Nathan Guy refuses to acknowledge the current state of the red meat sector and the urgent need for direction and leadership.
"A further blow to rural communities is meat companies now exporting meat carcases for processing. Coupled with this is the recent loss announced by Silver Farms, off a $2 billion dollar turnover, which completes a picture of terminal decline for too many in the red meat sector.
"The Government must address the failures across the whole red meat sector and redirect the dollars that are currently being spent in projects that have delivered little real benefit or confidence to the struggling red meat sector.
"The minister should consider supporting the farmer-led initiative that wants a new, viable and long-term structure for the future of red meat farmers in New Zealand," says O'Connor.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.