The Tairāwhiti region’s economy and job prospects will be hammered if the rate of carbon-only forest conversions continue unabated and unregulated, Federated Farmers Gisborne-Wairoa President Toby Williams says. “That’s the grim outlook confirmed by the final report by accountancy and financial advisory firm BDO. “My concern is that when our authorities and residents – and […]
Pest Control
OSPRI refining TBfree operations at Molesworth Station
OSPRI’s TBfree programme is continuing to innovate and improve its operational effectiveness with the successful trialling of aerial low sow baiting and deer repellent bait at Molesworth National Park. This winter at Molesworth and adjoining private land, the animal disease management agency completed two 1080 aerial operations over 70,000 hectares and the outcomes were excellent […]
Safe use of agrichemicals manual updated
Disease and pest free animals and crops rely on agrichemical use. Pesticides, detergents and sanitisers are a critical component of New Zealand’s $48 billion agricultural sector. The recently released and updated ‘NZS 8409:2021 Management of agrichemicals’ provides guidance for spray operators, farmers, growers and other users to manage a range of chemicals safely, responsibly and […]
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 […]
Tapping farmer knowledge, effort a key to Te Manahuna Aoraki pest control
By Simon Edwards Two or three hares can eat as much as a sheep in alpine grassland. They’ll also damage saplings and shrubs. As part of his research, Otago PhD student Nick Foster needed help to put GPS collars on hares in the nationally significant biodiversity area looked after by Te Manahuna Aoraki. Lilybank Station […]
Twelve wilding pines projects to share $2 million
Twelve community projects across New Zealand will receive a share of $2 million to carry out wilding pine control, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor announced as part of Biosecurity Week. “Wilding pines are a serious problem that threaten many of the unique landscapes that New Zealanders value. Community groups and trusts on the ground can play […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]