Not so cuddly
OPINION: The image of regenerative farmers as kind, cuddly progressive types took a hit when one of their own took to social media to gloat over Bayer Crop Science's decision to close its Hastings research site.
OPINION: Bayer Crop Science closing its Hastings research site could be the tip of the iceberg.
It's an open secret that other multinationals are far from enamoured by our cumbersome, onerous and frankly stupid approvals process.
The cost and slow pace of our regulatory process has destroyed the confidence these agri-chem companies have to invest in local product development, hence there are far fewer applications in the system.
Which means fewer new tools for farmers.
KPMG says the animal health industry in NZ not only underpins the export industries that pay for pretty much everything in this country, but on its own it employs 1100 people and generates $430m.
Our bureaucrats need to drop this mindset that we're so 'special' that we can make the approvals process as hard as we like, and these companies will invest here.
They're already voting with their feet.
A function at Parliament on 7th October brought together central government decision-makers, MPs, industry stakeholders and commercial partners to highlight the need for strategic investment in the future of Fieldays and its home, the Mystery Creek Events Centre campus.
The Government's revised 2050 biogenic methane target range of 14-24% by 2050 is being welcomed by dairy farmers.
An increasing number of students are doing agricultural and horticultural degrees at Massey University by distance learning.
ANZ New Zealand is encouraging farmers and businesses impacted by the recent extreme weather that hit Southland and South Otago last week to seek support if they need it.
When Professor Pierre Venter takes up his new role as vice chancellor at Massey University next February it will just be a matter of taking a few steps across the road to get to his new office at the Palmerston North Campus.
Two rural data organisations - DairyNZ’s DairyBase and Farm Focus - have formed a new partnership that aims to remove data duplication and help provide more timely, useful benchmarking insights for farmers.

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