Chefs see food as much more than a commodity – Rebecca Ryan:
There’s a new movement gaining momentum in the New Zealand food industry. ConversatioNZ, aiming to ”inspire and empower” by creating a strong sense of pride and respect for the country’s natural, edible resources, is a not-for-profit movement created to share the story of New Zealand food and push culinary boundaries. North Otago reporter Rebecca Ryan talks to North Otago chefs and ConversatioNZ advisory board members Bevan Smith and Fleur Sullivan about it
Thirteen years ago, Fleur Sullivan saw waste and an opportunity for people to enjoy ”beautiful, fresh fish” straight off the boats in Moeraki.
Her restaurant Fleur’s Place, she says, was formed after she saw the byproduct – the fish brains, the heads, the livers – being thrown overboard from fishing boats and she knew she could use what was being thrown away. . .
Te Brake hits the accelerator – Ali Tocker:
Changing the guard at Young Farmers has propelled meat industry accountant Jason Te Brake into the hot seat as chairman. He talked to Ali Tocker about his career so far and his aspirations for the Young Farmers movement while he heads the board.
Jason Te Brake is clever, confident and committed – three qualities that have earned him the role of chairman of New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF).
The 27-year-old has his sights set on a strong and secure future for the group.
Woman’s passion for health and safety leads to award:
A passion for improving health and safety on New Zealand farms, and in particular the health of those working in the industry, has contributed to a West Coast farmer being named the winner of the rural category of the Women of Influence Award.
Katie Milne, a dairy farmer from Rotomanu, is also a member of the Federated Farmers Board, the National Animal Welfare Advisory Board, TB-Free West Coast and numerous other groups, including being a volunteer firefighter.
Ms Milne works closely with the Rural Health Alliance and travels the country talking to farmers about health and safety.
She said some farmers were not coping due to low or dropping returns, but help was available. . .
Water scheme expanding down valley – Hamish Maclean:
The North Otago Irrigation Company’s $57 million expansion down the Kakanui Valley is well under way.
Last month, McConnell Dowell Constructors crews began laying the main line – 1.2m-diameter reinforced fibreglass pipes – that will stretch towards Herbert.
The company almost tripled the size of the head pond on Ngapara-Georgetown Rd and upgraded pump stations over the winter.
The project was still on target for the September 2016 hook-up, company chairman Leigh Hamilton said. . . .
Significantly Improved Result Confirmed for Silver Fern Farms:
Silver Fern Farms has confirmed a positive 2015 financial result and further inroads made on debt reduction.
For the financial year ended September 2015, the company achieved Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) of $86.9m. This represented a 28 percent improvement on the $68.1m achieved in 2014. Net profit before tax for the year was $27.2m, up from $1.8m in 2014.
Chairman Rob Hewett said Silver Fern Farms’ shareholders will be pleased by the audited result. . . .
University of Canterbury researchers have developed potatoes that are resistant to cadmium, a toxic metal found in soil.
They say the finding could give growers here a new marketing edge.
Biotechnology lecturer Dr David Leung said their potatoes had a trait that could solve this problem and enhance New Zealand’s best potato varieties. . .
Posted by homepaddock 
Homepaddock 