Sarah Walker, Lisa Carrington, Sophie Pascoe and Eliza McCartney
Compensation claims
Funding of $85 million for operational and compensation costs for the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak response, beginning July 1 last year to the end of the current financial year, was approved by Cabinet on Monday. In December last year, $10m was approved.
The Ministry for Primary Industries estimates operational costs of $35m and compensation liabilities of $60m will be required until a decision on whether or not to eradicate the disease is made. Since Mycoplasma bovis was found last July MPI has spent $10m on the operational response and $2.5m on compensation claims.
Industry bodies DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association have committed $11.2m toward operational costs. There have been 29 properties confirmed with infection since the response began. A total of 42 properties, including the infected properties, are under Restricted Place notices, 54 on Notice of Direction and 741 under surveillance. Fifty-one compensation claims have been received with 10 paid.
Two board seats
Four candidates seek the two available positions on the Silver Fern Farms Co-operative board of directors. Both Fiona Hancox and Rob Hewett, who retire by rotation at the company's annual meeting in Dunedin on April 18, will stand for re-election and nominations have also been received for Chris Allen and Conor English.
The election will be conducted by postal and online ballot with voting papers to be posted to eligible shareholders on April 4. Voting will close on April 16 and the result will be announced before the annual meeting. Election information is on the website: silverfernfarms.coop.
Applications close
Applications close on March 31 for the next round of funding from the Fonterra Grass Roots Fund, which each year supports more than 300 community groups throughout New Zealand with grants of $500 to $5000 for projects that fit into one of three categories: "Bringing communities together", "Caring for our environment" and "Making our communities safer".
Northland groups which received funding last year included Far North Search and Rescue, Mangawhai Beach School and Kamo Volunteer Fire Brigade. To apply for a grant, head to www.facebook.com/FonterraGrassRoots. For information, email Fonterra Grass Roots Team: Fonterragrassroots@fonterra.com.
Views wanted
Federated Farmers is asking its members what they feel are the shortfalls, pluses or omissions in the current tax system to help draw up a federation submission to the Tax Working Group (TWG) chaired by Sir Michael Cullen which is looking into whether the tax system operates fairly in relation to taxpayers, income, assets and wealth and whether it strikes the right balance between supporting the productive economy and the speculative economy.
A land tax is one of the options in front of the TWG, as are a capital gains tax and environmental taxes. The survey began on Monday and closes on March 14.
Export boost
Record export lamb and butter prices helped boost New Zealand's terms of trade by 0.8 per cent in the December 2017 quarter to another new high, Statistics NZ said last week. Export meat prices rose 7.5 per cent in the December 2017 quarter, mainly reflecting high lamb prices (up 12 per cent).
Total export prices rose 4.9 per cent, with dairy and forestry prices also contributing to the rise. Export prices for butter have nearly doubled since September 2016, up 93 per cent.
Avocados demand
The ANZ Agri Focus March edition says per capita consumption of avocados is increasing and supply is struggling to keep up. Grower returns from avocados are favourable with an industry average of $27,300/ha in recent years and top growers achieving $78,000/ha.
ANZ develops a commercially focused greenfield model which shows at maturity profit of $43,500/ha. The internal rate of return, excluding the cost of land, is 24 per cent if the steady state profit of $43,500/ha in year 10 is held through to 20 years of age.
Sixth shearing win
Ruawai-raised shearing phenomenon Rowland Smith won his sixth Golden Shears open title at Masterton on Saturday with David Buick, of Pongaroa, runner-up, John Kirkpatrick, of Napier, third, and Gavin Mutch, of Scotland/Whangamomona, fourth.
Meanwhile, two transtasman tests at the Golden Shears were shared 1-1 each after the New Zealand team of Kirkpatrick, Nathan Stratford and Smith was unable to keep in touch with their Australian visitors on the fine-woolled merinos that dominated their shearing match.
The test was won comfortably by the Australian team of veteran Shannon Warnest, reigning Australian champion Daniel McIntyre and seasoned international Jason Wingfield. It was Australia's 33rd win in 63 tests since the annual home-and-away transtasman series started in 1974.
Campaign launched
Beef + Lamb New Zealand have launched a new campaign titled #IAMPROUD starring the four sporting ambassadors known as the Iron Maidens — Sarah Walker, Lisa Carrington, Sophie Pascoe and Eliza McCartney, pictured.
The campaign shifts from the style of previous promotions fronted by the Beef + Lamb ambassadors focusing on their values as athletes and role models to what is important to them about being an Iron Maiden and what it means. The new campaign videos will be featured as adverts during TVNZ coverage of the up-coming 2018 Commonwealth Games and earlier views are available on recipes.co.nz.