NZ First 'doesn't oppose trade element' of India FTA
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson says his party – NZ First - isn’t opposed to the “trade element” of a free trade deal with India.
OPINION: Your canine crusader reckons moves by the new government to try and breathe new life into the country's ailing wool industry will have little real impact.
It recently announed that over the next three months, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will be joined by Mark Patterson, in his role as Minister for Rural Communities and delegation as Associate Minister responsible for wool on a national woolshed roadshow.
"Under my delegation as Minister responsible for wool I will be working with farmers to rebuild the industry into a strong sector that recognises the exporting and sustainability potential of the product," Patterson says.
Perhaps a better way to go would be a detailed look into the effectiveness of the Strong Wool Action Group (SWAG) - chaired by Rob Hewett - that despite major taxpayer funding has done SFA to lift the profile or prices of NZ strong wool.
OPINION: Farmers are being put on notice by the Green Party.
As dairy farmers lock in plans for the upcoming mating season, a partnership between Fonterra and Silver Fern Farms has been formed with the aim of making it simpler to create additional value from calves not entering the replacement herd.
Farmers can now get a more reliable view of pasture covers across their farm, thanks to a combination of three data sources.
A warning to dairy farmers not to expect the same good conditions that they experienced last season, has been issued by a leading farm consultant.
South Waikato farmer Bas Nelis is always interested in fine-tuning his business to improve results.
On a farm in Tikorangi, North Taranaki, Brent Stevenson is sharemilking 1,400 cows.

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