OSPRI who manages the TBfree programme is to reduce the TB slaughter levy rates for cattle farmers from 1 October. The Differential Slaughter Levy (DSL) is reviewed each year to ensure that industry funding aligns with that agreed under the 2016 TB Plan Funders’ Agreement, this is subject to a 15-year period. The slaughter levies […]
Traceability
Miraka announces strategic partnerships with Pāmu and Waiū Dairy
Taupō dairy processor Miraka has recently announced two new strategic partnerships as part of its focus on specialty dairy products. The partnerships are with State-Owned Enterprise Pāmu and Māori-owned dairy processor Waiū Dairy. “At Miraka we make decisions for the long-term. Partnering with Pāmu and Waiū Dairy, who both share our values around kaitiakitanga and […]
NZPork disappointed at further delay to Country of Origin labelling regulations
New Zealand’s pork sector is disappointed at a further delay to the introduction of Country of Origin labelling regulations. The Government has announced that the regulations covering fresh/chilled food including pork and cured pork have been delayed for three months until February 2022. “We were eagerly awaiting these regulations to come into force in November,” […]
New Zealanders urged to back local pig farmers through lock-down and eat local pork
Kiwis are being encouraged to support New Zealand’s pig farmers by only buying ‘homegrown’ pork during the COVID-19 restrictions. New Zealand pig farmers are deemed an essential service and are continuing to farm through Alert Levels 2-4, but with many restaurants closed, the sector is concerned about a possible surplus of pigs. Now, NZPork has […]
Disease detective joins TB eradication push
When you hear the word epidemiologist these days you probably might think of the experts who are figuring out how to tackle COVID-19. But the brief is wider than humans. Essentially, epidemiology is the study of disease outbreaks and plays a big part in identifying the source of an outbreak, as well as monitoring and […]
Feds backs the butcher, the baker, and the greengrocer – again
Federated Farmers says the government needs to reconsider and let small business fresh food sellers stay open under level 4. Last year Federated Farmers national president Andrew Hoggard was vocal about Feds’ position. “We pleaded for common sense to prevail, we have had over one year to sort this out – yet it is not.” New […]
Blockchain links us to value capture, less tedious data entry
Of all the presentations at the Primary Industries NZ Summit in Christchurch earlier this month it was a session on blockchain technology that lit up the eyes of Andrew Hoggard more than any other. The Federated Farmers President has made better data interoperability a mission. Like most farmers he detests having to enter the same […]
Urban Kiwis and Farmers Share a Vision for Sustainable Food Production
When it comes to sustainable food, what matters more? What we’re buying. Or where, and who, we’re buying our food from? New research from @ourlandandwater suggests that urban Kiwis see supporting farmers directly with their dollar as the strongest sustainable food choice they can make. The study found that town or country, Kiwis have mostly […]
Sharing best practice through virtual farm tours
The role farmers play in producing food and in food security – especially when supply chains are disrupted by events such as the Covid-19 pandemic – is not well understood, Leeston arable farmer David Birkett says. “Previous generations understood it but it’s something that has been lost. I think that’s probably one of the bigger […]
Campaign targeting hunters on how to prevent the spread of TB
Ospri has launched a nationwide TB education campaign for hunters, providing them with the advice they need to keep themselves and their whānau safe while ensuring the disease is not spread unintentionally. Hunters sometimes come across bovine tuberculosis (TB) infected animals during their hunting activity and may not know what to do when it comes […]