Mycolplasma bovis isolated to just one farm :
The world-first attempt to eradicate the disease, which can cause lameness, mastitis and abortions in cows, began after it was first detected in a South Canterbury farm in 2017.
Since then, the disease has been confirmed and cleared from 271 properties, with more than 176,000 cattle culled.
Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor said no working farms we currently infected – the lone property was a large beef-feed lot, and work to clear it will begin later this year.
He marked the milestone as he announced $110.9m funding for biosecurity efforts. . .
Kiwis endangered by unlicenced occupations – Roger Partridge:
They may not know it, but unsuspecting Kiwis will soon be protected from unregistered log traders and forestry advisers. What a relief that should be.
The Shane Jones-sponsored Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Amendment Act was introduced under urgency in the midst of the pandemic in May 2020. Forced along by Jones’s fanciful election-year plans to boost employment in his Northland electorate, the Bill passed into law in August that year.
Jones is long gone from Parliament. But in the intervening two years, the Ministry for Primary Industries has been busily consulting with the forestry industry on a suitable registration regime.
And well they might. Even though the Ministry’s Regulatory Impact Statement could not point to any quantitative evidence of benefits from the proposed licensing regime, tasks as important as regulating log traders should not be rushed. . .
Saffron grower says industry growth necessary to meet consumer demand – Sally Murphy:
A Southland saffron grower says yields are slightly down this year but the quality of the spice is very high due to dry conditions.
The spice is the red stigma of a small purple flower Crocus sativus and can set you back anywhere from $20 – to $50 a gram.
Kiwi Saffron grows the spice organically across three hectares in Garston, Southland.
Owner Jo Daley said weather conditions had led to an enjoyable harvest this season and they should wrap up in the next week or so. . .
Geoff Reid poked the bear – Kathryn Wright:
Geoff Reid NZ poked the bear
If you know me, you probably know that I don’t like to say much on social media. And I certainly don’t get involved in online arguments. But when I have something to say, it’s probably important and it’s probably going to be long. The longer it percolates in my mind, the more I will have to say.
This is why, when environmental activist Geoff Reid posted his latest photos in an attempt to shame a Southland farmer that was simply doing his job, I had had enough. I have known about this person for a while – spoken about in both professional and private capacity. I considered sending the post to him privately but no, I wanted others to see the harm this man (and others like him) create. I will include the post below this. Rural people are my heart, and Geoff Reid is hurting them.
Geoff Reid poked the bear. . .
Only two months ago Radio NZ was airing a report “Why are global dairy prices so high?” Now, the story is rather different after two sharp falls at Fonterra’s fortnightly global dairy auctions, and the pundits are pondering what has happened.
But NZ’s dairy farmers can still rest easy that this season’s payout will be the highest in Fonterra’s history.
The latest fall this week was foreshadowed in a report by ANZ agri-economist Susan Kilsby on commodities. She noted dairy prices fell 4% month-on-month in April, driven primarily by lower prices for whole milk powder which is highly influenced by demand from China.
Kilsby went on to point out market sentiment had deteriorated as the lockdowns in Shanghai and Beijing impact consumer buying opportunities. . .
Biosecurity funding increase a sensible move :
An $111 million injection for biosecurity in the May Budget is a pragmatic acknowledgement of how vital it is to our economy we stop pest organisms at our borders, Federated Farmers says.
“This extra money shows an appreciation by the government pest incursions can wreak havoc in our primary industries, New Zealand’s powerhouse for export earnings,” Federated Farmers Arable Chair and plant biosecurity spokesperson Colin Hurst said.
“Plenty of Budget rounds go by without any bolstering of funding for biosecurity so we congratulate the government for making this a priority.”
The funding announcement comes on the same day that we mark the fourth anniversary of New Zealand’s world-first attempt to eradicate the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis – indeed the $110.9m in the Budget includes $68 million over the coming year to continue momentum on the M. bovis programme. . .
Homepaddock 