Milking it?
OPINION: A mate of yours truly reckons that ACT agriculture spokesman Mark Cameron may be overdoing his 'I'm a farmer' schtick a little bit too much.
Proposed changes to the animal welfare system are going out to public comment.
Primary Industries Minister David Carter says the proposals set a strategic direction for animal welfare and improve the way the Animal Welfare Act operates.
"Animal welfare matters. It matters because how we treat animals says something important about us as a society," he says.
"It also matters for New Zealand's reputation because our trading partners and international consumers rightly expect us to maintain high standards of animal welfare.
"I encourage New Zealanders to provide input on this discussion to ensure we get the system right."
Carter says the proposed national strategy, the first of its kind, will canvass the views of stakeholders with animal welfare interests, identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current system and set a vision for New Zealand's animal welfare system into the future.
"The proposed changes to the Animal Welfare Act will clarify the way it operates and make it easier to enforce.
"A key proposal is that codes of welfare, which currently set the standards for animal welfare, are replaced with a combination of regulations and guidelines. Regulations will be directly enforceable in law. Guidelines will provide information and advice but will have no legal effect," Carter says.
The closing date for submissions is September 28 2012.
A former Fonterra executive is the new chair of the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ).
New Federated Farmers national dairy chair Karl Dean is looking forward to tackling the issues facing the sector.
OPINION: Ministry for Primary Industries' situation outlook for primary industries report (SOPI) makes impressive reading.
Sheep and beef farmers Matt and Kristin Churchward say using artificial intelligence (AI) to spread fertiliser on their sprawling 630ha farm is a game changer for their business.
Commercial fruit and vegetable growers are being encouraged to cast their votes in the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board directors' election.
A unique discovery by a Palmerston North science company, Biolumic, looks set to revolutionise the value and potential of ryegrass and the secret is the application of ultraviolet (UV) light.
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