AGRIBUSINESS Avocado pulp is being turned into powder for food products. PAGE 23
MANAGEMENT Advanced weaning approach boosts beef returns for Hawke’s Bay farmers. PAGE 32
ANIMAL WELFARE Are there nicer ways to euthanise calves?
RURALNEWS
PAGE 14
TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS
FEBRUARY 18, 2014: ISSUE 555
MIE saga drags on THE CHAIRMAN of the Meat Industry Excellence (MIE) group, John McCarthy, says he’s bewildered at the “head in the sand” approach taken by the Alliance Group to overtures to appoint Fonterra director John Monaghan to its board. MIE has pushed to get Monaghan appointed to the board and had a non-binding resolution to this effect passed at the Alliance annual meeting. Monaghan says he is keen to serve “the interests of the red meat sector”. But Alliance chairman Murray Taggart has rejected calls to have Monaghan directly appointed to the board. He says Monaghan must go through the process determined by the board, whereby potential candidates are first vetted by a consultant – a process Monaghan has rejected as being a “façade”. “I think there is a groundswell among farmers for change and I have given a commitment that I am available,” Monaghan told Rural News. Given the interest in the Monaghan affair, Alliance took the unprecedented step of writing to shareholders explaining the situation. Taggart wrote, “I spoke with John [Monaghan] about the process and invited him to submit his CV and meet with the independent consultant to discuss the role. I understand John then indicated he was reviewing his position and as a result did not meet with the
www.ruralnews.co.nz
Crunch time for TPP talks PETER BU RKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
AGRICULTURAL TRADE envoy Mike Petersen is in Singapore this week as crucial talks take place aimed at finalising a Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal. He’ll be joined later in the week by Trade Negotiations Minister Tim Groser, attending the ‘ministerial’ meetings.
Petersen told Rural News he’s always optimistic about a deal being finalised, but this depends on the “political will” of the 12 countries involved. He says time is running out to get a deal struck and if no deal is done within the next four months it’ll be hard going from then on. Petersen will meet officials and lobby groups from the other participating countries and will push the New Zealand case for trade liberalisation. He will
talk to the people who support the New Zealand position and those opposed to it to try to boost the political effort of Tim Groser and his negotiators. “There are issues and it won’t surprise anyone that the agricultural ones are big. We still have to get offers on the table so that we can put together a deal that will be comprehensive and eliminate tariffs across all products and all the member countries. That’s a big piece of work and it will be hard going.”
Petersen says the Japanese have to deal with issues over meat and dairy and the Americas with sensitive political issues. “The Canadians would argue that dairy is particularly sensitive and other countries have particular interests in sugar and rice. That’s what makes it so complex because you have 12 countries, each with different needs and positions, and trying to reconcile those is a challenge.”
CHEEKY ENOUGH TO PLANT CHICORY? WANT TO overcome pasture shortage in summer and lift milk yield at the same time? Tirau farmer Jack Steegh believes planting chicory may be the answer. Steegh, last week, told a Smaller Milk and Supply Herd (SMASH) field day on his farm that chicory works well for break feeding in summer to boost cow nutrition. Chicory, with its tap root can access soil moisture at a deep level more consistently during dry periods, producing high yields in summer. Ryegrass struggles in dry conditions with it shallow root system. This season Steegh will plant another 4ha with chicory. Full story page 35.
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