NZ Rural Games coming to Q'town
A two-day celebration of ''all things country'' will be held in Queenstown next year during the inaugural New Zealand Rural Games. (ODT)
The new event, to be held at the Queenstown Rec Ground at Waitangi Weekend, February 7 and 8, will feature a host of traditional country sports and celebrate New Zealand's rural heritage for spectators and an international television audience.
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Under pressure mental health sector delighted with budget
Mental health and addiction non-government organisations (NGOs) are delighted that Budget 2014 includes a contribution to cost pressure for health – but now call on DHBs to pass the increase on rather than unfairly retain it as they have in previous years. (Scoop)
It was announced recently that district health boards will have about $320 million available next year for extra services and to help meet cost pressures and population changes.
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Positive Budget reveals little for rural health
An increase of $1.8 billion dollars to the health budget overall appears a good thing, but as always the devil is in the detail, says New Zealand Rural General Practice Network chairman Dr Jo Scott-Jones.
Finance Minister Bill English announced details of Budget 2014 on May 15. It makes available $1.8 billion for health over four years for new initiatives made up of $1.39 billion of new money and $412 million of savings. The budget also includes $90 million over three years from July 1, 2015 so primary school-aged children can go to a doctor free, any time of the day or night, and get their prescriptions free. Overall New Zealand’s public health services budget will reach a record $15.6 billion next year.
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Avery takes message to Australia
The Marlborough farmer who's been inspiring fellow New Zealand farmers with his advice on how to overcome adversity has taken his message across the Tasman.
Doug Avery is in big demand on the rural speaking circuit in New Zealand, with his story of how he and his family rescued their farm from collapse after discovering the drought resistant powers of lucerne.
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Rise in farm spend predicted
Sheep and beef farmers will be spending more on their farms this year as a result of a lift in their incomes.(RNZ)
Beef + Lamb New Zealand's mid-season forecast is predicting a 35 percent lift in the average profit for those farms, to $113,700 before tax.
It says the strong demand for both sheepmeat and beef is pushing up returns from overseas markets, with lamb prices expected to lift by 18 percent. Revenue from cattle is also forecast to lift by 7 percent.
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Farmers more efficient than ever
DairyNZ says its latest economic survey shows New Zealand dairy farmers are more efficient and profitable and produce at least twice as much milk per hectare, compared with 50 years ago. (RNZ)
The survey, released at the dairy farmers forum near Hamilton, shows the inflation-adjusted cost of production has stayed at a constant level of about $4.70 a kilo of milk solids for the past 25 years.
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Farm skills lead to medical innovation
Growing up on a farm gave a Taranaki orthopaedic nurse the practical skills that led to her invention of a revolutionary piece of medical equipment. (Stuff)
Lorraine Parthemore, a registered nurse with almost 40 years' experience in orthopaedic surgery in New Zealand and overseas, is a farmer's daughter, so milking cows, feeding out, docking lambs, mustering sheep and pulling swedes out of the ground were all part of growing up.
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Dairy warned on China dependency
A Chinese dairy analyst is warning the New Zealand dairy industry not to become too dependent on that market. (RNZ)
Rabobank's senior dairy and beverages analyst, Sandy Chen is visiting New Zealand to speak on key developments in the Chinese dairy sector and the implications for New Zealand dairy farmers.
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Consider horse riders MPs hear
MPs have been told that horse riders should be considered when the Transport Agency is designing new roads. (RNZ)
The Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee is considering a petition signed by 15,000 people, which calls for Parliament to recognise horses as an alternative mode of travel in New Zealand.
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Rural headwinds predicted
The good times for the agricultural sector are starting to wind down, but farmers remain buoyant about the industry, according to the latest BNZ Rural Wrap. (DomPost)
Looking back over the 2013-14 year, the BNZ says most sectors have made positive export gains, with higher prices from dairy and lamb especially.
As a result, food exports for the year to the end of March came to almost $29 billion, 15 per cent higher than a year earlier.
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Mandatory rural recycling wanted
Agrecovery hopes a Government move to introduce compulsory recycling of some waste products will level the playing field for its operation. (RNZ)
Environment Minister Amy Adams has released a discussion document which raises the possibility of making voluntary stewardship schemes mandatory.
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Rural communities warned over scam
Police are warning people not to get sucked in by what they say is a sophisticated scam that's been targeting rural communities. (RNZ)
The scam involves tickets turning up in the mail advising the recipient that they've won a travel prize of significant value.
To claim their prize the supposed winner just has to get in contact with companies based in Asia who ask them to send money to help get their winnings released.
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FF welcomes fortnightly wage ruling
Federated Farmers is welcoming a change to wage regulations to allow a fortnightly minimum wage rate. (RNZ)
The federation had lobbied the Government after a recent court ruling which stipulated wages had to be assessed on an hourly, daily or weekly basis to comply with the Minimum Wage Act.
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Greens exempt sheep, beef farmers
The Green Party's proposed carbon tax system initially exempts sheep and beef farmers because, unlike dairy farmers, they can't afford it, Greens co-leader Russel Norman says. (RNZ)
Dr Norman announced the party's Climate Protection Plan recently and said under it, dairy farmers would pay $12.50 per tonne in emission charges. That would equate to 8 cents per kilo of milk solids, or a levy of $29.95 per cow.
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At a glance
Farmnews, click here.
Rural Women, click here.
NZ Farmer, click here.
KPMG Fieldnotes, click here.
One Farm (farm business management), click here.
Rural TV, NZ’s rural community online, click here.
AgResearch, click here.
Ministry of Health, click here.
Ministry for Primary Industries, click here.