Ag's wish list keeps growing
When the new National-led government is finally formed there will be a long list waiting for it to action from the primary industries sector.
Nearly 200 rural contractors from around the country gather in Invercargill next week for the annual conference of the expanding $2b industry.
Rural Contractors NZ chief executive Andrew Olsen says the industry’s growth is being marked by new sponsorship arrangements – such as with major agrichemical company Nufarm as well as the second year of awards for trainees.
“We’ve landed a new partnership with Nufarm which in part reflects the fact farmers are increasingly moving away from storing and applying agrichemicals and allowing rural contractors to take on those roles,” Olsen says.
“We both recognise that the increasing environmental and workplace demands with agrichemicals require suppliers and our members to work together and develop better training, advice and feedback.”
Olsen says that’s part of the reason the Rural Contractors NZ last year developed its Trainee of the Year awards, with the 2023 winner to be announced at the Invercargill conference.
“Our members are supporting people who want to come into the industry and learn how to drive the big machines and develop all the necessary skills to harvest, cultivate or spray.”
The conference at the Ascot Park will be opened by National’s Agriculture and Trade spokesperson Todd McClay at lunchtime on Tuesday June 20 before workshops on precision farming, crop protection and wellbeing.
There are further workshops on Wednesday and panel discussions on Thursday, including one on health & safety and another on the future challenges and opportunites for rural contractors in dealing with emissions, chemical and plastic.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
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