Red meat's China push
The red meat sector is launching a new campaign to lure Chinese consumers to New Zealand grass-fed beef and lamb.
New detector dog puppies and a recruitment drive to hire 30 new quarantine inspectors proves biosecurity is a top priority for the government, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.
Guy visited the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Detector Dog Breeding Centre in Auckland to meet four new beagle puppies that will be trained to guard New Zealand's airports to stop unwanted pests and diseases entering the country.
"The four puppies have overcome a tragic start to life. Their mum, Utah, was found to have leukaemia soon after the births and had to be put down," says Guy.
Guy chose the name 'Clara' for one of the new puppies.
"I'm looking forward to following Clara's progress as she helps to guard our border."
As well as recruiting canines, the Ministry is about to start recruiting 30 new quarantine inspectors to work on the frontline of our biosecurity system.
This is in addition to the 56 extra frontline staff recruited over the last six months, says Guy.
Of the 30 new staff, six will start work in Christchurch, four in Wellington, two in Queenstown and 18 in Auckland. They will begin in mid-August after extensive training.
"Numbers of frontline staff are directly related to the volume of people and goods crossing the border. As New Zealand's economy continues to grow the numbers of border staff are also likely to increase.
"The primary industries are the powerhouse of New Zealand's economy and protecting them from biosecurity threats is my number one priority. We have a world class system, but we are always looking for ways to improve it even further," says Guy.
A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.
Free workshops focused on managing risk in sharefarming got underway last week.
Annual farmer gathering, the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), is set to make history as it heads to Timaru for the first time.
Installing 400 solar panels at their Taranaki piggery and cropping operation will have significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits for the Stanley family.
WoolWorks, New Zealand’s largest wool-scouring company, has partnered with the Lions Club of Riverton to help raise money for much-needed repairs to the Southland town’s swimming pool.
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