Omniferous – bearing, carrying, or consisting of all things, or many kinds or sorts of things; all-bearing; producing all kinds.
Rural round-up
04/08/2015Experienced Southland farmers pave the way for young talent:
A group of leading Southland farmers have identified the pressing need to develop young farming talent in order to secure a sustainable future for the region’s agricultural industry, as well as New Zealand’s farming sector overall.
The issue of attracting and retaining young people in farming and agriculture has seen central Southland dairy farmer Anita de Wolde join with other local farmers to develop the ‘Ag Pathways’ network.
These farmers form Rabobank’s Southland Client Council, who collectively recognise that one of the most pressing needs for the region is drawing talented young people to the agricultural industry. . .
Showing Ayrshire cattle fine hobby – Sally Rae:
Bruce Eade doesn’t go fishing or own a boat.
Instead, the West Otago dairy farmer’s hobby is showing the family’s Ayrshire cattle, a breed he has been involved with all his life.
Mr Eade (35) was presented with an achiever award at Ayrshire New Zealand’s annual conference in Invercargill, along with Kelly Allison, who farms on the Taieri. . .
Not the GDT, but the DIRA – Andrew Hoggard:
I imagine everyone will be assuming this article is going to be about the falls in the Global Dairy Trade, and potential downgrade to come of the Fonterra farmgate milkprice.
But honestly, I have not only been talking about this for the past year, I have also been living it as well. I’ve been constantly redoing budgets and thinking about strategies, because as some people seem to forget, I’m a dairy farmer second – family comes first, and then a farmer politician third.
So, I would much rather talk about something slightly different. . .
August a peak period for farm injuries:
Farmers are being reminded of the risks posed by livestock and vehicles during calving as historically the number of injuries on dairy farms rocket up in August.
Although there are relatively few incidents causing injuries on farms in June, this number doubles in July and then more than doubles again in August. Dairy farmers in particular are more likely to be injured by cows in August than in any time of the year.
The two main injuries are to the lower back and neck, and the two main causes are being kicked, stood on or bitten by animals, or muscular stress from lifting or carrying. . .
Paying your Children to work on the farm:
Whether it be feeding the calves after school or docking lambs, working on the family farm is a quintessential rural New Zealand right of passage for many kiwi kids.
On top of helping mum and dad out it’s a great way to learn some practical skills for a future career in the industry, not to mention perfect for saving up a bit of pocket money for those weekend trips to the big city or tertiary study.
For farming parents it’s easy to see the children as a ready source of labour for love, however Crowe Horwath Agri Tax Expert Tony Marshall, himself a former family farm child employee, has a word of caution, suggesting “We may be dealing with family, but there are certain rules that need to be followed when it comes to paying your children for work undertaken on the family farm”. . .
Waikato-based SummerGlow Apiaries have taken on a new major construction project at their Waikato property.
The new building will expand SummerGlow Apiaries production capabilities providing more genuine Manuka honey to meet the increasing demands of a global market.
Nestled in the Waikato heartland, Manuka Honey Producers SummerGlow Apiaries have been establishing themselves as the number one global brand for genuine Manuka Honey. . .
How much of a pciky eater are you?
04/08/2015How much of a picky eater are you?
Improvement not perfection
04/08/2015In a perfect world all trade would be unhampered by subsidies, tariffs or other costly interventions in between willing buyers and willing sellers.
Those selling goods and services would have more potential customers and consumers would have a better range of quality and price from which to choose.
In this less than perfect world politics, bureaucracy, protectionism and other anti-competitive behaviour get in the way of markets.
Free trade deals are never perfect but they are worth pursuing if they provide sufficient improvements over all for the countries signing up to them.
The many hours and many more dollars spent on Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations aren’t aiming for perfection, but any deals reached will have to deliver significant improvements on existing restrictions and protections to make signing up worth while.
We have a much greater range of goods and services we can buy and sell, and at better prices, as a result of FTAs already established. The TPP could provide even more opportunities.
Our negotiators can’t hope for a perfect deal but they should continue to work towards improvements on what we have now with too many hurdles our businesses have to leap for access to other Pacific markets.
Quote of the day
04/08/2015A note of caution: We can never achieve goals that envy sets for us. Looking at your friends and wishing you had what they had is a waste of precious energy. Because we are all unique, what makes another happy may do the opposite for you. That’s why advice is nice but often disappointing when heeded. ― Marcus Buckingham
Hat Tip: Sam Johnson