A recently released survey reveals important findings about the winter colony loss rates of New Zealand bees and the experiences of New Zealand beekeepers, says Apiculture New Zealand. The New Zealand Colony Loss Survey is produced each year by Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research for the Ministry for Primary Industries. It is based on an online […]
Biosecurity
Vaccinating animals for their health – and ours
by Mark Ross, Chief Executive of Agcarm OPINION: As we struggle to fathom how we ended up in the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic, we’re reminded of the importance of vaccinations to protect us from life-threatening diseases. The same applies to animals – to preserve their health and wellbeing as well as ours – due […]
War on Westland pests hailed by former Feds President
The $45 million predator-free project announced for South Westland today is a “massive” win for biodiversity and the local economy, Katie Milne says. The former Federated Farmers President, who has taken on the role of chairing Predator Free South Westland, said the 50 jobs expected to be created during the five-year assault on possum, rat […]
Independent M.bovis review is opportunity for learning
Federated Farmers is pleased the government is committed to finding out what more can be learnt from the country’s handling of the biosecurity response to Mycoplasma bovis. The Ministry for Primary Industries announced today it will conduct an independent review into the M. bovis response. The disease was first detected in New Zealand in 2017 […]
New weaponry for war on wasps
Approval has been granted to import and release two new organisms, a hoverfly and beetle, in a bid to reduce plague populations of invasive German and common wasps in New Zealand. The Tasman District Council applied to introduce the wasp-nest beetle, Metoecus paradoxus, and a hoverfly, Volucella inanis, for biological control of the wasps Vespula germanica and V. vulgaris. The […]
Glyphosate – a tool that requires care
Colin Hurst, Federated Farmers Arable Industry Group Chairperson The news that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) requires all honey exports to Japan to undergo glyphosate testing, has again generated media comment about the safety of its ongoing use. Those in the primary sector are glyphosate’s primary users, but it is also commonly used […]
MPI explains M. bovis/bulk tank milk sample approach
By Stuart Anderson, Director of the Mycoplasma bovis Programme A question asked frequently of the Mycoplasma bovis Programme after a detect result from our bulk tank milk screening, is around the sample sizes when on-farm blood testing is carried out. Bulk tank milk samples are taken at the pick-up of milk from each dairy supplier […]
Working better together – Fish & Game and Federated Farmers
A ‘goodwill meeting’ held between the boards of Federated Farmers and Fish & Game has signaled an attempt to calm the troubled waters between the two organisations. However, the initiative has raised some eyebrows among freshwater campaigners. Six members of the NZ Fish & Game Council met with their counterparts from Federated Farmers at the […]
Pulling together to beat biosecurity threats
The discovery of a new cluster of Mycoplasma bovis in Canterbury is a reminder our battle to eliminate this cattle disease is ongoing. With cattle on two farms testing positive last week, it means a total of seven farms in the province are infected, with another 146 properties around New Zealand under active surveillance. On […]
Rotorua Lakes Council – A no show on Biodiversity
THE NATIONAL POLICY STATEMENT FOR INDIGENOUS BIODIVERSITY received over 7000 submissions – But nothing from the Rotorua Lakes Council, Federated Farmers lodged a substantial 200-page submission on the NPSIB after their analysis of the proposals triggered serious concern as to whether regional and district councils had the resources, both in terms of staff and dollars, […]