Early Bird I Friday September 20th 2024

Input sought on crucial Biosecurity Act changes, methane vaccine research gets multi-million dollar boost, and three candidates vie for two DairyNZ board seats. Welcome to Proud Country's Early Bird - The top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand delivered to you by 5am, because who doesn’t need better chat beyond the weather! Input sought on crucial Biosecurity Act changes New Zealand's vital biosecurity defences are up for a major update, with the government inviting rural communities to have their say on proposed changes to the 30-year-old Biosecurity Act. The move aims to bolster the country's ability to protect its world-leading food and fibre export industry, valued at $53 billion annually. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard recently unveiled a range of potential amendments designed to modernise and strengthen the nation's biosecurity framework. These include tougher penalties for travellers bringing in undeclared high-risk items, more adaptable importing rules, and a revised approach to sharing costs for biosecurity responses. The Minister underlined the importance of New Zealand's relative freedom from harmful organisms, which gives the country a competitive edge globally. This advantage is something the government is looking to reinforce by updating biosecurity laws to meet current and future challenges. The proposed changes come at a critical time for New Zealand's agricultural sector. With the country's economy heavily reliant on primary industries, maintaining robust biosecurity measures is paramount. The revised Act aims to enhance New Zealand's capacity to manage biosecurity threats and defend against potentially damaging incursions. Key to the success of these reforms is input from those most affected – farmers, growers, and rural communities. The government is actively seeking feedback from primary industry leaders, indigenous groups, local authorities, and the wider public to ensure the updated Act meets the needs of all stakeholders. Minister Hoggard emphasised the need to hear from those on the ground, stating that insights from the agricultural community are crucial in shaping a biosecurity system that works for everyone. The consultation period runs until November 29th, giving ample time for thorough discussion and debate. Detailed information on the proposed changes can be accessed through the Ministry for Primary Industries website, where seven comprehensive discussion documents outline the various policy proposals under consideration. Methane vaccine research gets multi-million dollar boost New Zealand's quest for a groundbreaking methane vaccine has received a significant boost, with AgriZeroNZ and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) injecting $13.5 million into newly formed company Lucidome Bio. This investment marks a crucial step forward in the country's pioneering efforts to reduce agricultural emissions. Wayne McNee, AgriZeroNZ's chief executive, describes a successful methane vaccine as potentially transformational for New Zealand's agricultural sector and farmers worldwide. He emphasises its potential as a low-cost, high-impact solution that could be adopted across all farming systems, calling it the "holy grail" of emissions reduction. The science behind the vaccine is both innovative and complex. It aims to trigger an animal's immune system to produce antibodies in saliva that suppress methane-producing microbes in the rumen, significantly reducing the amount of this potent greenhouse gas released through burping. David Aitken, Lucidome Bio's interim chief executive, welcomes the funding and outlines the company's vision to help farmers feed the world while protecting the planet. He states that the investment will enable team building, field trials in animals, and further development of the vaccine. This domestic investment follows recent international recognition, with the Bezos Earth Fund providing USD $9.4 million to an international consortium, including AgResearch scientists now seconded to Lucidome Bio, to build scientific evidence for a methane vaccine. The Country-Wide Podcast Episode 38 takes a deeper look into this groundbreaking vaccine, find the link in the description.https://country-wide.co.nz/episode-38-do-we-have-the-right-tools-to-effectively-tackle-emissions/ LIC delivers profit despite industry headwinds Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC), has held its annual meeting, where the dairy improvement co-operative's leadership team addressed a challenging year marked by financial and operational hurdles. Despite the difficult economic climate, LIC Chair Corrigan Sowman highlighted the co-operative's achievement in delivering a sustainable profit. The company closed the year with a $7.7 million profit and paid out a total dividend of 18.84 cents per share, maintaining a strong balance sheet without debt. Sowman acknowledged the potential headwinds facing the sector but expressed confidence in LIC's resilience. He emphasized the co-operative's commitment to its core purpose of delivering value for farmer shareholders, noting that current decisions will influence the future of New Zealand's national dairy herd. Looking ahead, LIC forecasts underlying earnings of $16-22 million for 2024/25, barring any major external factors. Chief Financial Officer Brent Mealings noted a decrease in total revenue, down 3.3% from the previous year, largely due to reduced demand across key product and service lines. This decline was partly attributed to farmer reactions following Fonterra's significant decrease in forecast milk prices last August and September. Mealings also addressed the impact of a semen quality issue, which had an after-tax effect of $1.5 million. Despite these challenges, he noted positive signs in the sector, with confidence slowly rebuilding. However, he cautioned that results might take time to materialize as farmers continue to face short-term cash constraints. The annual meeting also saw new appointments, with Mike O'Connor elected as director for the North Island region, Tony Coltman for the South Island region, and Kirsten Watson as the Upper North Island territory shareholder reference group representative. B+LNZ reminds farmers of crucial lamb welfare regulations As the docking or tailing season begins, Beef + Lamb New Zealand is urging farmers to review the tail length regulations that came into effect last year. These rules aim to enhance animal welfare while ensuring farmers adhere to best practices. Will Halliday, Senior Advisor for Animal Welfare and Biosecurity at B+LNZ, highlights a key requirement: the docked tail must not be shorter than the distal end of the caudal fold. In layman's terms, this refers to the end of the skin flaps attaching the tail's underside to the lamb's body. Halliday emphasises that this length is the absolute minimum allowed, cautioning that shorter docking could result in a $500 infringement fee. The regulations also limit the methods farmers can use for docking. Only hot irons and rubber rings are authorised, with any alternative method potentially incurring a $500 fine. Halliday advises farmers to thoroughly brief their tailing teams about these requirements before starting work each day. Clear communication about correct placement of hot irons or rubber rings is crucial to avoid inadvertent breaches. Age restrictions also apply to the docking procedure. Farmers and their staff are permitted to dock lambs under six months old. However, for older lambs, the task must be carried out by a veterinarian. As the docking season continues, farmers are encouraged to review their procedures, ensure all team members are well-informed, and reach out to B+LNZ or local veterinary services if they have any questions about compliance. Three candidates vie for two DairyNZ board seats Dairy farmers across New Zealand have a crucial decision to make in the coming weeks as voting for this year's DairyNZ director elections is now underway. Three candidates are competing for two vacant positions on the DairyNZ board, shaping the future leadership of the organization. Voter packs were dispatched yesterday, and farmers can now cast their votes either online or by post. The voting deadline is set for 12 noon on Thursday, October 17, giving farmers four weeks to make their choices. This year's board of directors candidates are Jacqueline Rowarth, Richard McIntyre, and Kylie Leonard. Farmers interested in learning more about the candidates have an opportunity to do so tonight. DairyNZ is hosting a 'Meet the Candidates' webinar this evening at 7pm, offering a chance to hear directly from the nominees. The election comes at a time of change for the DairyNZ board. Chair Jim van der Poel is retiring, while Jacqueline Rowarth is retiring by rotation but has chosen to re-stand for her position. The board structure consists of five farmer-elected directors and three board-appointed directors, highlighting the importance of farmer representation in the organization's governance. In addition to the candidate vote, farmers are being asked to consider four resolutions in their vote packs. These include the appointment of independent director David Hunt and changes to the Rules of DairyNZ. These amendments reflect new regulatory requirements and incorporate recent feedback from the farming community. Farmers seeking more information about the resolutions and proposed changes can refer to the Notice of Meeting booklet included in their voting packs. This information is also available online for easy access. DairyNZ encourages all eligible farmers to participate in this important process. Detailed information on the candidates and the voting procedure can be found on the DairyNZ website at dairynz.co.nz/elections. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.