Watch B+LNZ Annual Meeting 2024 recording, NZ red meat sector hopes EU-NZ FTA will boost links and co-operation, Mycoplasma bovis update, Country trails newsletter
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This page contains this week’s e-diary national notices.
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This week’s notices:
Watch B+LNZ Annual Meeting 2024 recording
The 2024 B+LNZ Annual Meeting and Showcase was held on 19 March in Nelson. A recording of the annual meeting is now available on YouTube. Watch it here.
New micro-credential – implement and monitor your farm environment plan
Eligible for 50% off* fees, Primary ITO is excited to launch a new micro-credential that will equip your staff with the skills and knowledge to confidently support you to implement and monitor your farm environment plan. Plus, for farmers working towards accreditation with the NZFAP Plus Programme, this micro-credential covers a number of the standards required within the environment module. Learn more on Primary ITO’s website. B+LNZ works with Primary ITO as part of its commitment to train and retain people within our sector, and is committed to farm planning as an effective tool for farmers (see story above). *T&Cs apply.
NZ red meat sector hopes EU-NZ FTA will boost links and co-operation
The New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement was ratified by the NZ Parliament last week and will enter into force from 1 May. The FTA offers limited benefits to the red meat sector but will smooth the flow of trade and boost co-operation between the two markets. The EU is among our sector’s most important markets, ranking number three for the past three years. In the 2023 calendar year, the sector exported $1.3 billion of product to the EU, making up 12 percent of the sector’s total exports. Read our media release.
Mycoplasma bovis update
The last Active Confirmed Property has been cleared and cleaned with farming on the Selwyn dairy farm now able to resume. This means the number of Active Confirmed Properties with M. bovis is currently zero. The number of Cleared Confirmed Properties is 282. The Selwyn dairy farm was one of two confirmed properties found after the eradication programme reached zero properties for the first time in August last year. With the source of infection for this property not being established, finding a few more cases in the coming season may be expected. Six years into an estimated 10-year eradication plan, the programme is moving into a phase that will centre on surveillance. Experience from previous years suggests there are likely to be more bulk tank milk detects over spring and autumn. Farmers can help to control the spread of M. bovis and other diseases by following good biosecurity practices. For more information, please visit the M. bovis website.
Country trails newsletter
Farmers and rural communities wanting to promote their tourism activity can do so for free through the NZ Country Trails online platform. NZ Country Trails also publishes a regular newsletter – the latest edition is available here and includes a focus on tree growing, particularly alternatives to pines, along with links to further information. B+LNZ proudly supports NZ Country Trails to help farmers connect their on-farm experiences with travellers.