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This page contains this week’s e-diary national notices.
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This week’s notices:
Government announcement on freshwater farm plans
This week the Government announced it’s pausing the rollout of the national freshwater farm plan system while they review the legislation and make changes which aim to ensure the farm planning regime encourages and motivates on-farm environmental improvements. We support this announcement as we agree it’s important to take the time to get this right. We have long argued that freshwater farm plans should be risk-based and cost-effective, and avoid duplication with consenting requirements. A farmer survey we ran earlier this year showed support for farm plans as a tool for delivering effective and efficient resource management – however the current mandatory requirements for every farmer to have a certified and audited freshwater farm plan go too far.
We want your sheep poo
Join B+LNZ's sheep poo study to help us understand the spread of Facial Eczema (FE) in New Zealand. As a participant, you'll receive free FE spore counts, access to an online map showing spore detection across the country, and opportunities to connect with other farmers through a WhatsApp group and webinars. The next season starts soon. Register your expression of interest here.
Sheep breeders: submit your interest for measuring methane emissions
B+LNZ Genetics is calling for Expressions of Interest from stud breeders for measuring methane emissions in their flocks through the Cool Sheep® Programme, which funds phenotyping costs for eligible sheep breeders. Combined with genotyping data, these measurements generate a methane breeding value. For more information and to submit an expression of interest, visit www.methanebv.co.nz
Take part in climate change policy positions workshops
B+LNZ are planning a series of climate change policy workshops between 7 and 18 October. These workshops are about having detailed and open conversations with farmers to develop a package of climate policy positions. The workshops will be 3–4 hours long and held in several locations nationwide (to be confirmed). Farmer input is vital to policy position development for B+LNZ and we will continue to test our thinking in the coming months. If you would like to provide input through these workshops, please register your interest here or by emailing lucy.evans@beeflambnz.com
Expressions of interest – livestock parasite management group for Northland cattle production
B+LNZ is supporting the creation of seven new Livestock Parasite Management farmer learning groups across the country. These groups will focus on addressing drench resistance and improving parasite management. In the Northland region, vet Garth Riddle of Bay of Islands Vets is leading a group and is looking for 12 interested cattle farmers who can commit to attending every meeting. The project is run for one year, with four meetings taking place. Interested farmers can learn more and register by emailing Garth at garth@bayvets.co.nz