Project takes aim at pasture persistence problem
Farmers are welcoming a $17 million, seven-year collaborative science and research programme to lift pasture persistence and productivity.
OPINION: Your old mate is still somewhat gobsmacked by sheer stupidity and lack of understanding by Beef+Lamb NZ’s board in asking for a pay rise at this year’s annual meeting.
He also takes issue with chair Kate Acland’s rather spurious argument that BLNZ’s director fees are far lower that other comparable levy body board remuneration.
On first glance this may appear to be the case. However, even a little bit of research shows that BLNZ directors are not doing it so tough.
According to its 2023 annual report, DairyNZ’s chair receives around $95k annually and each farmer director around $50k.
Meanwhile, BLNZ’s chair gets $76k and each farmer director around $38k.
However, if you add in the director fees they also get as being directors of the NZ Meat Board – Acland’s stipend jumps to $107k a year and each farmer director to $55k.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says the 2025 Fieldays has been one of more positive he has attended.
A fundraiser dinner held in conjunction with Fieldays raised over $300,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
Recent results from its 2024 financial year has seen global farm machinery player John Deere record a significant slump in the profits of its agricultural division over the last year, with a 64% drop in the last quarter of the year, compared to that of 2023.
An agribusiness, helping to turn a long-standing animal welfare and waste issue into a high-value protein stream for the dairy and red meat sector, has picked up a top innovation award at Fieldays.
The Fieldays Innovation Award winners have been announced with Auckland’s Ruminant Biotech taking out the Prototype Award.
Following twelve years of litigation, a conclusion could be in sight of Waikato’s controversial Plan Change 1 (PC1).