Early Bird Rural News with Richard Baddiley By cover art

Early Bird Rural News with Richard Baddiley

By: Proud Country Network
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  • Summary

  • Are you short on time to digest all of of New Zealand's rural news? Well we are about to change your life!

    Hosted by award-winning newsreader, Richard Baddiley, Early Bird is the short rural news bulletin podcast curated just for you.

    Delivered at 5am from Monday-Friday covering the top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand so you have better chat beyond the weather.

    Have a press release you'd like shared on the show?

    Email richard@countrywidemedia.co.nz
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Episodes
  • Early Bird I Thursday July 25th 2024

    Early Bird I Thursday July 25th 2024
    Jul 24 2024
    Fonterra to cut up to 100 jobs in Hamilton, Pest to Plate: Hawke’s Bay tackle feral deer with butchery classes, and AI-powered weed zapper impresses agriculture industry. 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! Fonterra to cut up to 100 jobs in Hamilton The country's largest dairy co-operative, Fonterra, is set to eliminate up to 100 jobs at its Hamilton headquarters as part of a cost-saving initiative. The move, which includes outsourcing work overseas, has raised concerns among employees and farmers alike. The cuts, described as "brutal" by affected staff, will primarily impact the finance and accounting team. Many long-serving employees are among those affected. According to anonymous sources, the jobs will be outsourced to Accenture, a global accounting firm, in India. Incoming Chief Financial Officer Andrew Murray stated that Fonterra has been reviewing its operating model to enhance returns for farmer shareholders. The changes include "co-sourcing" work with an existing partner in Bangalore and Manila. The announcement has sparked mixed reactions within the farming community. Matthew Zonderop, Waikato sharemilker and provincial dairy chair for Federated Farmers, expressed strong opposition to outsourcing jobs overseas, emphasising the importance of keeping money within New Zealand. John Stevenson, chair of the Fonterra co-operative council, acknowledged the difficult balance between making returns for farmers and valuing employees. He noted that farmers have challenged Fonterra to increase efficiency and deliver higher returns on invested capital. The proposed changes are part of what Fonterra calls the "future of finance" programme, which is expected to bring widespread changes across the company's financial operations globally. The current focus is on the Hamilton office, but employees suggest this is just the beginning of a larger restructuring effort. Fonterra has stated that they will inform employees about the changes first as they go through the consultation process. Final decisions on individual redundancies are expected to be made on August 12. AgResearch scientist pitches groundbreaking facial eczema treatment A young AgResearch scientist has gained international recognition for her work on a novel treatment for facial eczema, a disease that costs New Zealand's animal production sector $330 million annually. Dr Tanushree Gupta, the sole New Zealander to win an award in the Australasia-based AgriFutures growAG 2024 catalyst program, has developed an antifungal product targeting facial eczema-causing fungal spores. Facial eczema continues to affect many farms in the upper North Island and is spreading southward due to climate change. The disease is challenging to manage, with its presence heavily dependent on specific climatic conditions. Current treatments for facial eczema are either highly toxic chemical sprays that damage the soil environment or zinc dosing for livestock, which is itself a toxin requiring careful administration. Dr Gupta's innovative approach involves a naturally occurring, non-toxic, and sustainable solution. While details remain confidential, she confirms the treatment comes from a previously unstudied but naturally available source that is already recognized as safe and part of the ecosystem. Dr Gupta envisions the product being developed into a spray that can be applied directly to paddocks or through irrigation systems, moving away from treating animals in response to the fungi's presence. Dr Gupta's discovery stems from her curiosity about potential solutions in everyday environments, combined with her background in dairy hygiene and microbiology. Her work has included advanced diagnostics using CRISPR-based techniques to detect bacteria on farms and in food. The award has secured Dr Gupta a place to pitch her research to potential investors, bringing her closer to providing farmers with a commercial, viable solution to this long-standing agricultural challenge. Kiwifruit growers navigate rising costs amid record harvest New Zealand's kiwifruit industry is experiencing a mix of challenges and achievements, with growers reporting financial strain despite a record harvest. The sector produced more than 197 million trays this season, yet many orchardists are grappling with increasing costs and delayed returns. Rob Thode, a Pāpāmoa kiwifruit grower, highlighted the industry's cost inflation. He notes that labour rates have more than doubled in the last decade, rising from $16.50 to $35 an hour. Meanwhile, returns for Hayward green kiwifruit remain stagnant at around $8 per tray, the same as ten years ago. The payment structure adds to growers' financial challenges. Earnings are often distributed over extended periods, with some orchardists waiting up to 14 months for full payment. This delayed cash flow can create ...
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    9 mins
  • Early Bird I Wednesday July 24th 2024

    Early Bird I Wednesday July 24th 2024
    Jul 23 2024
    Agriculture leads significant drop in greenhouse gas emissions, millions at stake as New Zealand fights for infant formula labelling rights, and environmental stewardship and innovation take centre stage at arable awards. 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! Agriculture leads significant drop in greenhouse gas emissions New Zealand has achieved its largest quarterly reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions in 14 years, with the agriculture sector leading the charge. Statistics NZ reports that for the March 2024 quarter, seasonally adjusted greenhouse gas emissions from industries and households decreased by 2.7%. This marks the most significant quarterly decline since March 2010, excluding the unusual circumstances of the pandemic years. Stephen Oakley, environmental-economic accounts manager, attributes this impressive 541 kilotonne reduction mainly to lower emissions from agriculture, forestry, and fishing. This sector alone saw a decrease of 154 kilotonnes, or 1.4%, in the quarter. The agricultural sector's emissions have now fallen 8.1% from their March 2019 high. Moreover, it showed the largest annual decrease in the year to March, with emissions down 6% or 2,776 kilotonnes from their March 2014 yearly high. Manufacturing also contributed to the overall reduction, with emissions falling 88 kilotonnes or 4% in the March 2024 quarter. This marks the third consecutive quarter of decreased emissions for this sector. However, not all sectors saw reductions. The electricity, gas, water, and waste services industry recorded the largest increase in emissions, up 126 kilotonnes or 7.7%. This rise was attributed to increased natural gas use for electricity generation, following an 18% decrease in the previous quarter. Household emissions saw a slight increase of 0.6% or 12 kilotonnes, mainly due to higher heating and cooling emissions. Transport emissions from households remained relatively stable. Looking at the year ended March 2024, overall greenhouse gas emissions rose 0.5% or 396 kilotonnes. The main contributors to this annual increase were the transport, postal, and warehousing industry, as well as the electricity, gas, water, and waste services sectors. Millions at stake as New Zealand fights for infant formula labelling rights New Zealand's Minister of Food Safety, Andrew Hoggard, is heading to Australia for a crucial meeting tomorrow to protect our infant formula exports to Australia and potentially to China. The issue involves new rules that could limit how New Zealand producers display ingredient information on their packaging. These changes come from an Australian initiative to encourage more mothers to breastfeed. However, our local producers argue that caregivers who need formula should have complete access to product information. The French company Danone has cautioned that these changes might lead to job losses and reduced exports. On Monday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon highlighted the economic stakes. He estimated that $300 million in Australian sales and up to $2 billion in other markets could be at risk. This regulatory alignment effort between Australia and New Zealand, which started in 2013, is nearly complete. If enacted, the new rules would take effect in five years. Minister Hoggard says that while most of the agreement is acceptable, two key areas remain contentious. These relate to what manufacturers can include on front-of-pack labelling about ingredients or protein content. Hoggard aims to negotiate a relaxation of these restrictions. If unsuccessful, New Zealand might need to create its own standard, which would increase costs for local manufacturers. The minister also raised concerns about how these changes could affect our exports to China. While Chinese standards are even stricter, they currently allow imports that meet Food Standards Australia and New Zealand regulations. Jonathan Chew, head of the Infant Nutrition Council warned that this could disadvantage New Zealand goods compared to those from the European Union, where labelling rules are less restrictive. As negotiations unfold, the outcome will have significant implications for our infant formula industry, affecting both domestic production and our position in international markets. Biosecurity teams head overseas to combat Bird Flu threat New Zealand is taking decisive action against the looming threat of deadly bird flu strains, with biosecurity teams embarking on crucial missions to Australia and the United Kingdom, aiming to gather vital information and strategies. This aggressive strain of bird flu has affected marine mammals worldwide and recently emerged in US cattle, even infecting a small number of farm workers. While New Zealand has remained free of these highly aggressive strains, the Ministry for Primary Industries is not taking any chances. Dr Mary ...
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    9 mins
  • Early Bird I Tuesday July 23rd 2024

    Early Bird I Tuesday July 23rd 2024
    Jul 22 2024
    Experts debate effectiveness of technology in meeting our climate goal, DairyNZ calls for experienced farmers to join governance team, and mixed results for Kiwi shearers in Wales. 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! Experts debate effectiveness of technology in meeting our climate goal The government's draft Emissions Reduction Plan has drawn varied responses from New Zealand's scientific community, particularly regarding its reliance on future technologies to meet climate goals. AgResearch chief scientist Dr Axel Heiser points to ongoing research in low-methane livestock genetics and overseas developments in feed additives as promising signs. However, Heiser cautions that no single technology will solve all issues, and a range of tools will be necessary. In contrast, Professor Emeritus Ralph Sims from Massey University voices scepticism about the plan's dependence on immature technologies. He warns that relying on potential future solutions is risky, noting that despite a decade of well-funded research, no major breakthroughs have emerged in reducing ruminant methane emissions. Professor Geoff Willmott from the University of Auckland emphasised that while technological progress is often seen as a 'magic bullet,' it requires significant investment and time to develop and deploy. The plan also leans heavily on afforestation as a carbon storage strategy. However, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton has previously cautioned against over-reliance on tree planting as a solution to emissions reduction. As the country strives to meet its international climate commitments, the effectiveness of the government's approach remains a topic of ongoing debate among scientists and policymakers. Arable Industry survey shows mixed results for maize grain and silage The latest Arable Industry Marketing Initiative survey reveals a positive season for New Zealand maize growers, with increased yields for both grain and silage crops. Data from 87 farms shows average maize grain yields at 11.6 tonnes per hectare and maize silage at 21.9 tonnes of dry matter per hectare. Maize grain production saw a significant 30% increase compared to 2023, with both harvest area and yield up by 14%. The total estimated tonnage reached 250,700 tonnes, including unharvested grain. However, as of June 1, only 68% of the crop had been harvested, lower than the 11-year average of 77%. While the majority of the maize grain crop has been sold, unsold stocks held by growers sits at 30,400 tonnes, higher than last year's 16,700 tonnes. This represents an unusually high 32% of harvestable hectares remaining unharvested, compared to the 11-year average of 23%. Maize silage also saw an increase, with total tonnage up 9%. This resulted from a 17% yield increase, despite a 6% reduction in harvest area. However, a significant portion, 481,700 tonnes of dry matter, remains unused or unsold, higher than in all of the previous ten seasons. Looking ahead, sowing intentions for the 2024-2025 season indicate a 27% decrease for maize grain and a 12% decrease for maize silage compared to last season. These figures suggest a cautious approach from growers, potentially in response to market conditions and unsold stocks. DairyNZ calls for experienced farmers to join governance team DairyNZ is calling for nominations to fill key governance roles, offering passionate and forward-thinking farmers a chance to influence the industry's direction. Two farmer-elected Board of Director positions and one Directors' Remuneration Committee member position are now open for applications. Current Board Chair Jim van der Poel, who is stepping down this year, emphasised the importance of diverse insights from farmer-elected directors with governance or leadership experience. He says that this is an exciting time to join DairyNZ as it implements a new strategy focused on meeting the evolving needs of farmers and the sector. Ideal candidates should possess a strong understanding of farm systems, research, policy, and advocacy. They should also demonstrate robust business and financial skills, good networks, and governance experience. The two Board vacancies arise from van der Poel's departure and Jacqueline Rowarth's retirement by rotation. Additionally, one position is available on the Directors' Remuneration Committee, which independently reviews and recommends director compensation annually. All farmers paying a levy on milksolids to DairyNZ are eligible to stand for these positions, with nominations requiring support from two DairyNZ levy payers. The deadline for nominations is 12 noon on Friday, August 9. If an election is necessary, farmer voting will occur during September and October. The successful candidates will be announced at DairyNZ's annual general meeting on October 22 in Canterbury. Farm2Future ...
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    8 mins
Economics
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