Monday, 02 March 2020 09:50

Winter grazing action group announced

Written by  Staff Reporters
The Winter Grazing Action Group is progressing on work done by the Winter Grazing Taskforce in August last year. The Winter Grazing Action Group is progressing on work done by the Winter Grazing Taskforce in August last year.

A new 15-member winter grazing action group has been announced by agriculture minister Damien O’Connor.

The Winter Grazing Action Group will be tasked with implementing recommendations to improve animal welfare in winter grazing systems.

The group is made up of 15 representatives from industry organisations, government, vets, farmers, and other rural professionals. Its establishment follows the final report by the Winter Grazing Taskforce.

In its report, the Taskforce, established by O’Connor in August last year, made 11 recommendations to help ensure that animal welfare became a key part of all winter grazing decisions in the pastoral supply chain.

“The new Winter Grazing Action Group met for the first time last week and is eager to progress the work begun by the Taskforce…..I will continue to take a strong interest in the progress and they will continue to report to me as that work takes shape," says O’Connor.

“I know there’s a lot of concern about managing winter grazing for cattle, sheep, and deer. This is an issue across the country.

“Farmers around New Zealand, whatever their particular winter grazing system, need to meet animal welfare and environmental outcomes. I encourage them to reach out to their levy organisations if they need any support or additional information ahead of winter.”

Action Group chair Lindsay Burton said the group was engaged and ready to get to work.

“We don’t have all the answers but we have a work programme, a high level of expertise across the sector and a drive to succeed. The work that the Taskforce has done to date has set us up very well to move forward and should be applauded,” says Burton.

The action group members are:

• Lindsay Burton, Independent Chair

• Ash Keown, Veterinary Manager (Large Animal), NZ Veterinary Association

• Caroline Murray, Technical Advisor, Dairy Companies Association NZ

• Helen Thoday, Animal Care Manager, Dairy NZ

• Tony Pearse, Production Manager, Deer Industry NZ

• Julie Geange, Policy Adviser, Federated Farmers

• Milton Munro, Technical Team Manager, PGG Wrightson

• Miranda Hunter, Consultant, Roslin Consultancy

• Peter Young, Consultant, Farm Advisory Services

• Pania King, Sheep & Beef Farmer and Taskforce member

• Tim Driscoll, Dairy Farmer, Southern Dairy Development Trust

• Will Halliday, Senior Adviser Animal Welfare & Biosecurity, ­Beef+Lamb NZ­

• Leonie Ward, Manager Animal Welfare Sector Liaison, MPI

• Penny Timmer-Arends, Adviser Animal Welfare Sector Liaison, MPI

• Gray Harrison, Manager Animal Welfare & NAIT Compliance, MPI

More like this

Farmers urged to prepare as heavy rain looms

With adverse weather set to rain down on the Top of the South, the Bay of Plenty and parts of Northland, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers, foresters, and growers need to prepare for possible challenges.

Industry monitoring dry conditions

While it has been a great spring and summer for farmers, soil moisture levels in the Waikato are now plummeting as the dry February starts to bite.

Wairoa flood review findings released

A review into the Wairoa flooding event on 26 June 2024 has found the flood was caused by a combination of factors leading to the river backing up and overflowing.

Featured

People-first philosophy pays off

The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

AgFirst marks 30 years of agribusiness advice

AgFirst, New Zealand's largest independent agribusiness consultancy, is turning 30 - celebrating three decades of "trusted advice, practical solutions, and innovative thinking".

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Faking it

OPINION: Demand for red meat is booming, while it seems the heyday of plant-based protein is well past its 'best…

M.I.A.

OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter