Growers warn of jobs losses unless immigration decision comes soon – Esther Taunton:
Thousands of Kiwi jobs could be lost unless the immigration minister moves quickly to approve overseas workers, strawberry growers say.
Cabinet is expected on Monday to decide how many additional seasonal workers will be allowed into New Zealand under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. The scheme sets the number of workers that can come into the country on a short-term visa, to work in the horticulture and viticulture industries. Growers are frustrated at the late stage of the year the decision is made.
Waikato-based Strawberry Fields was staring down the barrel of a “tragic” season, managing director Darien McFadden said. . .
Farmer lobbying for river protection after collecting 400kg of rubbish from it – Katie Todd:
A Hororata farmer is lobbying for better protection of the Selwyn riverbed, after plucking more than 400 kilograms of rubbish from it in a few hours.
Deane Parker said the trailer-load he and his sons gathered on an afternoon in late August included an “amazing” amount of RTD bottles, along with computer monitors, furniture, plastic and household items.
He’d been concerned by the amount of rubbish building up around the end of Hawkin’s Road, which backs onto the river, and said Canterbury Regional Council quickly and gratefully collected his haul. . .
Generational timing a spark of hope – Alan Williams:
Indications the Government will allow a generation for freshwater improvement work to reach required levels gave hope to farmers in Timaru on Thursday night.
The devil will be in the detail but the comment from Environment Minister David Parker pointed to a more realistic time frame and away from short-term thinking, Fairlie farmer Mark Adams said after the meeting.
“If we can stop the degradation now and have 30 years or 25 to 30 years to get our water back to 1990s levels that’s very important and pragmatic.”
The longer time frame means farmers can play round with it more and have discretion to tinker. . .
Manawatū ram breeder Kevin Nesdale rewarded for a hard life’s work – Sam Kilmister:
A former Manawatū rugby player has been lauded for his life of accomplishments off the rugby paddock.
Kevin Nesdale holds the record for playing 63 consecutive 80-minute games for Manawatū, but it’s his global success in another field that was celebrated at a community awards ceremony on Thursday.
Nesdale, also known as KJ, became the largest ram breeder in New Zealand and genetics from his Kimbolton farm are sold around the world.
Born into a family with seven brothers, Nesdale says he could just about could shear a sheep before he could walk. . .
Plenty of California eyes on Taste Pure – Alan Williams:
Most California people tuning in to Beef + Lamb’s Taste Pure Nature promotional video are watching it to the end.
The figure of just over 50% is double the industry average and exciting progress, Red Meat Project global manager Michael Wan said.
In six months more than five million views were counted.
Anecdotal evidence is the combination of the video, extensive digital advertising, social media and use of influencers to boost in-store promotions are proving useful for the brand partners, though actual sale details aren’t available, Wan said. . .
World’s first farm incubator launched :
An initiative of Cultivate Farms, Cultivator matches the next generation of aspiring farmers with farm investors to own and operate a farm together.
Sam Marwood, Cultivate Farms Managing Director says Cultivator has a farm investor ready to back the best aspiring farmer to co-own a farm with them.
“The Cultivate Farms team have met with hundreds of aspiring farmers whose dreams of owning and running their own farm have been squashed, because they don’t have access to the millions of dollars needed to buy a farm,” Sam said. . .
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