Keep it real
OPINION: With the Government applying some fiscal discipline to scientific research funding, this mutt thinks it might be timely to look at what's still being done in the ag-science space.
OPINION: At last, a serious effort to better connect farmers and scientists.
The Science for Farmers initiative promoted by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) makes sense.
On show at recent regional field days, a special site under this banner was set up whereby farmers can meet up with scientists and discuss some of their problems, and find out what researchers have in the pipeline to deal with some of the challenges they are facing. Likewise, scientists get a heads-up on problems on the farm.
The concept of oozes common sense. Many years ago, politicians and bureaucrats disassembled the old MAF and cut the strong link between the scientists and policy makers. Remember the Ruakura Farmers Conference initiated by the great science leader, the late C.B. McMeeken?
Thousands of farmers flocked there in the 1960s and 70s to listen to men and women who dedicated their lives to finding better ways to farm. And then there were the tours of MAF farms at Ruakura and Whatawhata. Also let’s not forget the excellent horticulture field days held near Levin. All these good science communication events went with the stroke of a pen.
While NZ scrapped the link between science and farmers, 18,000km away the Irish have kept the system that we dumped and that has been hugely successful. A field day organised by the Irish science collective Teagasc, similar to our old MAF, can attract upwards of 10,000 farmers, something we never see in NZ.
It was seeing what Teagasc has done that prompted the MPI boss Ray Smith and his Irish sidekick Dr John Roche to start to improve that scientist-farmer communication by initiating Science For Farmers.
There will never be a return to the halcyon days of the 70s but what is being done is great and hopefully farmers and more science providers will embrace this excellent concept.
New Zealand’s dairy sector cannot expect India to be a market for all its dairy products.
Meat processor ANZCO Foods’ net profit has plunged on the back of lower market returns which squeezed margins and impacted business performance.
OPINION: Most people will be aware of the Government's plans to boost coal, oil and gas production to meet energy requirements.
AgriZeroNZ has entered a new partnership with Britain's national innovation agency, Innovate UK.
Twenty rural community hubs across New Zealand will receive $5,000 to upgrade their facilities having been selected as the winners of Rabobank's Community Hub Competition.
As the dairy industry prepares to celebrate its top achievers at an awards night this Saturday, attendees are being warned to be aware of protests planned outside the venue – Baypark Arena, Mount Mauganaui.
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