‘Red letter day’ for ag sector
Farmers are welcoming the announcement of two new bills to replace the under-fire Resource Management Act.
OPINION: As your old mate - as well as many in the sector - expected, the Budget had nothing in it for the country's all-important primary sector.
As Federated Farmers curtly pointed out that it asked for "absolutely nothing in this year's Budget, and it's safe to say the Government have exceeded our expectations on that front with no new spending for farmers".
Feds' acting president Wayne Langford said farmers weren't looking for a handout and were happy to stand on their own two feet.
However, he pointed out that his organisation wanted the Government to stop weighing farmers down with impractical, unpragmatic, and unfair regulations.
"We're still waiting for them to deliver on that second request."
Langford added that farmers were having to tighten their belts, count every penny and live within their means, but - unfortunately - the Government wasn't doing the same.
The National Wild Goat Hunting Competition has removed 33,418 wild goats over the past three years.
New Zealand needs a new healthcare model to address rising rates of obesity in rural communities, with the current system leaving many patients unable to access effective treatment or long-term support, warn GPs.
Southland farmers are being urged to put safety first, following a spike in tip offs about risky handling of wind-damaged trees
Third-generation Ashburton dairy farmers TJ and Mark Stewart are no strangers to adapting and evolving.
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.

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