This Week On Straight Talk - Friday 29th April

This Week On Straight Talk - Friday 29th April, 2011 At 8.30pm

If you are in the meat business in New Zealand, you won’t want to miss this week’s STRAIGHT TALK on Country99TV. Host Mandi McLeod is joined by Collier Isaacs, CEO, FarmIQ Systems and Wendy Clark, Chair, Auckland Federated Farmers. STRAIGHT TALK gets all the inside information on FARM IQ, directly from the man at the top.

Farm IQ has been set up to deliver a Primary Growth Partnership Programme developed by Silver Fern Farms, PGG Wrightson and Landcorp.

The seven year “Plate to Pasture” programme will use private and public funding sources and aims to create a consumer focused integrated value chain for red meat that delivers sustainable value to all participants.

The private sector partners will provide 61 per cent - or $92 million - of the $151 million total investment.

Silver Fern Farms, as lead investor, is contributing 45 per cent ($68 million) of the total while co-funder Landcorp Farming and the other industry players will provide a mix of capital, in kind skills and advisory, nutritional expertise and resourcing across the seven projects that form the programme.

The Government will provide the remainder of the investment through the Primary Growth Partnership fund.

FarmIQ has conducted a series of road shows across the country to introduce the people and companies behind Farm IQ, and to briefly outline the 7-year work program to farmers.

Isaacs joined FarmIQ following a role as Landcorp Farming Ltd’s National Manager, Services and Strategy. He is also Chairman of DeeResearch and DeerSelect, and a Director of Deer Industry New Zealand.

Isaac has been involved in the livestock and meat industries for most of his career – starting with the Game Industry Board in 1989 and ultimately becoming Chief Executive in 1999.

This week’s panel of STRAIGHT TALK experts also explore why the Waikato District Council wants to review its livestock movements bylaw. Is it simply a growth strategy and a way to raise revenue?

Public safety and the need to protect the surface of roads are two key reasons Waikato District Council has proposed to extend its Livestock Movement Bylaw district-wide to include the former Franklin area.

Waikato District Council, Roading & Projects General Manager, Ian Gooden said it made sense to have one district-wide bylaw to ensure there was no inconsistency in regulating stock droving and stock crossing activities within the Waikato district.

“The main purpose of the bylaw is to ensure the safety of all road users, including farmers moving livestock, and to protect the structure and surface of our district’s roads,” he said.

“The Livestock Movement Bylaw follows best practice and is modelled on a New Zealand-wide model bylaw. It provides Council with a mechanism to effectively regulate and monitor stock moving activities in the district which take place on Council roads,” adds Gooden.

The Livestock Movement Bylaw includes a requirement for farmers to obtain a permit to move stock on Waikato district roads.

Permits can be issued for a period of up to two - five years at a time; meaning individual permits are not required every time stock is moved. In applying for a permit farmers are able to propose alternative ways in which they will move stock and warn traffic of stock movements.

Presenter Mandi McLeod will also lead a lively discussion on whether New Zealand needs more milk processors, with news the Maori-owned milk processor Miraka aims to be functional by August 1st. The plant will be similar in size to Open Country and Synlait. What will it mean for Fonterra? Is this another competitor they’ll have to supply milk to under DIRA? The new plant, based outside Taupo, is targeting Vietnam and other Asian countries with milk powder sales.

STRAIGHT TALK Premieres Friday 27th April, 8.30pm on Country99TV. (For repeat schedule please check website)

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