tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46734563402294668412012-02-17T08:02:39.027+13:00HON DAVID CARTER - Minister for Primary IndustriesDavid Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.comBlogger491100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-73353865110612249852012-02-16T16:07:00.002+13:002012-02-16T16:08:51.016+13:00

The National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme passed its final reading in Parliament last night. This is a great step to future-proofing New Zealand agriculture. NAIT is primarily a data recording and collection system which will provide information on livestock, their location and movement history throughout their lifetime. The scheme needs to be mandatory to effective. With

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-30870832078390914812012-01-26T13:55:00.001+13:002012-01-26T13:56:14.761+13:00

This week’s announcement of the first project as part of the Irrigation Acceleration Fund (IAF) is great news for the Hawke’s Bay region. The go-ahead for the project delivers on the Government’s promise to lift economic growth through efficient use of water storage. The Government and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council will jointly fund a $3.3 million feasibility study of the Ruataniwha Water

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-40882300444208716412012-01-11T09:27:00.001+13:002012-01-11T09:29:24.978+13:00

2011 has been an eventful and challenging year. The Canterbury earthquakes and more recently the Nelson floods have highlighted a real sense of community pulling together to get through the hard times. As I’ve said before, in the worst times we see the best of New Zealanders – something we should all be proud of. Farmers have also faced hard times but the sun god’s are shining at the moment.

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-2633407811810855162011-09-19T12:00:00.000+12:002011-09-19T12:00:47.065+12:00

The future for New Zealand’s irrigation infrastructure has strengthened with the Irrigation Acceleration Fund now open for business. Announced as part of Budget 2011, the Irrigation Acceleration Fund provides $35 million over five years to support the development of proposals to the ‘investment ready’ prospectus ready stage. The development of smart irrigation infrastructure will boost economic

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-977117252192411152011-09-12T13:56:00.000+12:002011-09-12T13:56:25.273+12:00

One year on from the Canterbury earthquakes and few of us can forget the shattering images and the enormous grief suffered by so many people over that time. As a Christchurch MP, this has been particularly close to home. In the face of the two major earthquakes and thousands of aftershocks, the province has come a long way since 4 September 2010. There is a lot to do before life is back to

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-70256208779539201942011-07-11T14:51:00.000+12:002011-07-11T14:51:06.192+12:00

The rising global appetite for sustainable business practices is presenting New Zealand with opportunities that we could only have dreamed of a few years ago. A recent visit to Italy and the UK showed me that our efforts to capitalise on this are certainly being rewarded. A key reason for my visit to Italy was to lead the New Zealand delegation to the inaugural Ministerial Meeting of the Global

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-8174504256737830792011-06-27T12:27:00.001+12:002011-06-27T12:28:35.557+12:00

I have just had the privilege of representing New Zealand at the first Global Research Alliance Ministerial Summit in Rome. My colleague, International Climate Change Negotiations Minister, Tim Groser chaired the inaugural meeting. More than 30 countries have now officially signed up to the Alliance which is a global effort, initiated by New Zealand, to research ways of producing more food

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-26633148717657347602011-06-21T14:52:00.001+12:002011-06-21T14:53:27.704+12:00

I have spent a lot of time in airports over the past two days. The journey from Christchurch to Rome is a long one but representing New Zealand at the inaugural Global Research Alliance Ministerial Summit is a real privilege. While in Rome I will also lead the New Zealand delegation to the 37th meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) where I will deliver New Zealand’s

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-81936471004814580932011-06-20T13:49:00.001+12:002011-06-20T13:51:18.933+12:00

As the 43rd New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays drew to a close, it was obvious that the biggest event on our farming calendar had once again been a huge success. The four-day rural showcase was a triumph for the organisers, with huge numbers going through the gates of Mystery Creek. The theme of this year’s Fieldays was ‘Breaking Barriers to Productivity’. This is all about coming up

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-15319162849873076472011-05-19T16:52:00.000+12:002011-05-19T16:52:05.123+12:00

Budget 2011 builds a stronger platform for growth, sets a credible path to Budget surplus and helps lift national savings. It boosts investment in health, education, and infrastructure including irrigation, while also helping to rebuild Christchurch. It is a responsible and balanced budget for the times. It takes steps to ensure the Government returns to Budget surplus by 2014/15, so we can

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-86926808277737234492011-05-17T10:23:00.001+12:002011-05-19T16:53:37.090+12:00

The saying ‘many hands make light work’ is being put into practice in Hawkes Bay. Around 48 people, many of whom are currently on benefits, will help to clean up parts of the flood damaged region. Approximately 120 farms in the Wairoa, Hastings, and Central Hawkes Bay have been affected by the heavy rainfall and flooding and urgently need some extra hands to help with the clean up effort.

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-52773618753071729472011-05-10T14:35:00.006+12:002011-05-10T14:40:08.900+12:00

My colleague Nick Smith and I joined the Prime Minister yesterday in announcing the Government’s fresh water policy package which will help grow the economy while better caring for our rivers, lakes and aquifers. The package is the result of at least two years of work by MAF and is designed to expand on the Government’s economic growth agenda. It includes a $35 million Irrigation Acceleration

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-31418431033200874512011-05-09T13:47:00.002+12:002011-05-09T13:50:45.233+12:00

Great news with the red meat industry recently announcing its goal to grow the sector from $8 billion to $14 billion by 2025. The Red Meat Sector Strategy, initiated by Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association, is a plan to lift the performance of the meat industry and give it clearer direction. At the moment there is a real risk that current good returns could create farmer

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-5717931209295500062011-02-04T14:50:00.002+13:002011-02-07T10:27:31.186+13:00

A two-day trip to the Chatham Islands gave me the chance to see firsthand the challenges facing our most isolated farmers. And there are unique challenges - not least the need for a regular and reliable shipping service to overcome the uncertainty of getting livestock back to the mainland. I was joined by Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson and Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew on the trip and our

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-66551984037143169102010-12-01T16:02:00.001+13:002010-12-01T16:04:58.955+13:00

The use of sow stalls on New Zealand pig farms will be banned by the end of 2015. Today I released the Animal Welfare (Pigs) Code of Welfare 2010. The practice of sow stalls is now limited to four weeks after mating in 2012, and prohibited by the end of 2015. The growing unease of many New Zealanders about the use of sow stalls made it clear that change was necessary. Worldwide there’s

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-35623601803731707492010-11-16T14:45:00.003+13:002010-11-23T12:03:19.098+13:00

New Zealand kiwifruit growers are facing challenging times as some battle with the kiwifruit vine disease, Psa. It is a very serious situation for New Zealand’s billion dollar kiwifruit industry as we know Psa has devastated crops overseas, especially in Italy. A programme of aggressive containment is the immediate action and the key to this is a collaborative approach between Government and

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-11341180316374145712010-10-13T15:02:00.000+13:002010-10-13T15:02:22.186+13:00

Prince Charles and I have a meeting at Balmoral Estate in Scotland next week where we’ll discuss wool. The Prince is a champion of the efforts of Commonwealth farmers to grow wool and restore profitability to the sector. His “Wool Project” mirrors New Zealand’s campaign to get our strong wool industry back on track. I look forward to discussing with the Prince how to increase demand for wool

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-19677936873701096862010-09-29T14:11:00.000+13:002010-09-29T14:11:46.817+13:00

National’s 1 October tax cuts will support our rural communities, local businesses, and the economic recovery. The tax package is designed to enhance economic growth. It seeks to rebalance the economy towards earnings, savings, and investing, and away from the unsustainable borrowing, consumption, and over-investment in housing of the past decade. The tax cuts on 1 October will leave the vast

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-4581296320965527342010-09-15T16:59:00.003+12:002010-09-21T13:36:04.950+12:00

One thing the devastating Canterbury earthquake has shown us is that in the worst of times, you see the best of New Zealand. I have spent as much time as possible in the area since the earthquake hit, and the generosity of people pitching in to help their neighbours has been overwhelming. In true Kiwi spirit, Canterbury farmers have not only been dealing with damage to their own properties, but

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-40676808905738597742010-08-18T16:58:00.001+12:002010-08-18T17:09:20.465+12:00

Great news yesterday with the announcement of two Primary Growth Partnership projects totalling $321 million dollars that will boost productivity and new products for the dairy and red meat sectors. The Government's PGP fund is injecting $144 million into the partnerships, with industry funding $177 million. These follow on from programmes already approved for the arable, forestry and fine wool

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-10882615249395011062010-07-28T15:03:00.000+12:002010-07-28T15:03:06.521+12:00

Action is needed to revive our flagging meat industry. Lamb returns in the UK market are at their highest, but our sheep and beef farmers are struggling. The announcement by the Meat Industry Association and Beef + Lamb New Zealand for a joint strategy to lift the industry’s performance is exactly the sort of action needed. The Government has thrown its support behind the initiative

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-52285802747773488362010-06-22T16:36:00.002+12:002010-06-22T16:38:53.558+12:00

Two words to sum up the biggest event on our farming calendar – ‘fantastic Fieldays’. The four-day rural showcase was a triumph for the organisers, with more than 120,000 people going through the gates of Mystery Creek, up from 117,000 last year. The growing international connection was particularly notable with trade exhibitors from China, France, Italy, Argentina, Chile and the UK amongst

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-81913396503673433192010-04-07T16:58:00.005+12:002010-04-07T17:05:00.685+12:00

New Zealand lamb is shipped to supermarkets around the world. I saw this first hand at a supermarket in China recently. The distance from New Zealand to export markets has in the past stirred up the food mile debate, so I was pleased to see the lamb industry’s new carbon footprint study which largely debunks the argument. The report measured greenhouse gas emissions involved in the production,

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-29238032001321202102010-03-11T13:53:00.000+13:002010-03-11T13:53:48.565+13:00

The Government's commitment to responding sensibly to climate change and encouraging science and innovation was underlined recently when the Prime Minister and I opened the Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre in Palmerston North. This centre marks a new era for agricultural emissions research. It will support New Zealand in taking a significant leap forward in meeting the challenge of

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-57979528769716403392010-02-23T16:54:00.002+13:002010-02-23T16:56:29.336+13:00

Animal welfare is high on the public’s agenda. The public expects animals under our care to be well looked after and not to suffer unnecessarily. There is nothing complicated about these expectations. Globally New Zealand has good standing when it comes to animal welfare and I am determined to safeguard that reputation. In fact, I am committed to raising standards.The new Animal Welfare Code for

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-70863725721845026752010-02-19T14:38:00.004+13:002010-02-19T14:43:08.596+13:00

As Winston Churchill once said: “If we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future.” And it is the future 35 wool sector leaders focused on, when they agreed to adopt the recommendations of the Wool Taskforce report Restoring Profitability to the Strong Wool Sector. It is an encouraging step forward for the New Zealand wool industry and I’m

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-23422002493408918912010-01-29T11:02:00.001+13:002010-01-29T11:03:33.507+13:00

We have recently given the green light to a livestock tracing scheme which will protect New Zealand’s excellent food safety reputation in international markets and help boost biosecurity. The National Animal Identification Traceability (NAIT) project is a vital key towards future-proofing New Zealand agriculture. It is primarily a data recording and collection system which will be compulsory,

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-68100996852658967742009-12-01T14:41:00.002+13:002009-12-01T14:42:53.340+13:00

New Zealand farmers are sitting on a multi-billion dollar crop if the value of pasture renewal is anything to go by. Last week I launched an economic report which shows that we could add $1.6 billion to the New Zealand economy by treating pasture as a crop, rather than something incidental to the business of creating meat, wool and dairy products. There was a great crowd of industry players

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-17306391655158629442009-11-10T10:00:00.001+13:002009-11-10T10:01:56.841+13:00

Every Kiwi would agree that kauri is a treasured species that must be protected for future generations. This made our recent pledge of $4.7 million to help save kauri threatened by a disease known as ‘kauri dieback’ all the more significant. The total fund for the future management of kauri dieback now stands at $9.8 million, thanks in part to the support of several regional councils working

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-80841506757621579542009-09-17T14:09:00.002+12:002009-09-17T14:10:28.945+12:00

On September 16th, I hosted a function at Parliament for around 100 people to officially launch the Primary Growth Partnership. This major initiative, announced in the Budget, will see up to $140 million a year injected into primary sector growth and innovation. This is a huge investment for a country of our size, and it will bring huge benefits. The Prime Minister and Bill Falconer, who will

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-3708210453923456352009-08-24T12:52:00.003+12:002009-08-25T16:14:43.294+12:00

John Key and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd recently announced plans to make it easier to travel across the Tasman. This, of course, has major implications for biosecurity – in fact, if it didn’t, you could almost make trans-Tasman travel a domestic experience.But New Zealand takes biosecurity very seriously because it is critical to our reputation and economy. A major breach of

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-64311255259362602322009-07-16T09:46:00.002+12:002009-07-16T09:50:08.274+12:00

I’ve recently returned from a 10-day trip to Brussels and the United Kingdom. While it was great to escape the winter gloom here in New Zealand, there wasn’t much time to appreciate the European summer as I had a hectic programme of meetings with politicians, officials, farmers and major buyers of New Zealand goods.Highlights of the trip included a lengthy meeting that Fonterra Chair Henry van

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-33820446369538328452009-07-07T12:27:00.002+12:002009-07-07T12:30:33.526+12:00

Twice this year I’ve gone in search of some great tasting lamb and beef – first as a judge at the Glammies (Golden Lamb Awards) and then as a judge of the best steak at the Steak of Origin competition.It’s not hard to guess that I enjoy eating Kiwi beef and lamb. It also explains my real interest in the recent launch of “Meat: the Future”, a MAF study that looks at the opportunities and

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-45107884085277852022009-06-17T13:55:00.004+12:002009-06-26T08:33:18.895+12:00

I can’t let mid-year go by without reflecting on one of the most important events in the agricultural calendar – the National Fieldays at Mystery Creek. The healthy relationship between farmers and Government was clearly evident on the day the Prime Minister and I attended Fieldays. Everyone we met on that wet Wednesday was welcoming and positive.One reason for the vote of confidence was the

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-37440381262003773312009-05-28T15:13:00.005+12:002009-05-28T15:27:29.096+12:00

The primary sector is where this country's natural advantage lies.As the global population increases, the world must produce more food. There are reports that by 2060 the world will need to produce twice as much food from less land. Ultimately, much of this production increase will have to come from smarter technologies and efficiencies in farming. We cannot rely on research and development of

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-75612082979290127732009-05-11T15:11:00.006+12:002009-05-11T15:35:16.225+12:00

I was able to congratulate some of New Zealand’s true custodians on Saturday night as the guest of honour at the Century Farm Awards, held in Lawrence, Central Otago.Thirty-two faming families were celebrating the milestone of farming their properties for more than 100 years and some for more than 150 years.These families represent the great things about New Zealand farmers - past and present –

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-423783866947467382009-05-04T16:51:00.004+12:002009-05-05T12:30:00.731+12:00

In recent weeks there has been heated debate on the issue of live sheep exports for slaughter. There have been claims that a “six-year moratorium” has been lifted and that the Government is resuming the live sheep for slaughter trade next month. This is simply not the case. An irresponsible claim by the Green Party, in March, fuelled speculation that I, as Agriculture Minister, had opened the

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-80782856870724907722009-04-23T07:51:00.006+12:002009-05-01T09:39:27.248+12:00

The trouble with a winter drought is that it’s hard to explain to those that don't farm.I visited Gisborne and met with the local drought committee on April 20 and announced government assistance for drought affected farmers in the region. The announcement was made as it rained.The fact of the matter is these farmers are going into their third year of drought; with soil temperatures dropping,

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-37937737251789545602009-04-08T13:05:00.009+12:002009-04-08T15:42:10.612+12:00

Strong wool is the one area in agriculture I have identified as needing to pull its socks up quick-smart.It is a disappointment to me that the drive seems to have disappeared out of our strong wool industry restructuring. This is despite substantial investment of time and money by industry leaders and taxpayers. Conversely, I am an admirer of what Merino New Zealand has achieved with fine wool.

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-36695879404542687492009-03-26T10:01:00.011+13:002009-03-26T11:14:00.718+13:00

As Minister of Forestry and Minister for Biosecurity, I have a special interest in these portfolio areas. The significance of both forestry and biosecurity was further confirmed to me during visits to both to Tauranga and Rotorua over the past month. Apart from forestry’s economic role in sustainable development, it is valued for recreation and its place in the landscape. Due to the value we, as

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-16678755353107210082009-03-12T11:43:00.003+13:002009-03-12T12:17:13.695+13:00

This morning I launched the latest Dairying and Clean Streams: Snapshot of Progress. When it was developed back in 2003, the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord was a welcome initiative. Farmers are implicitly connected with their land. Their land is also their business and they are motivated to take care of, and preserve their number one asset. For this reason they are constantly trialling new and

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-55054566270381930432009-03-03T15:31:00.004+13:002009-03-03T15:46:44.823+13:00

I thought this cartoon by Guy Body in yesterday's New Zealand Herald hit the nail on the head. Yes, agriculture is absolutely important to New Zealand and the key to recovery from the current economic climate.

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-31775366433090798742009-03-02T11:54:00.004+13:002009-03-02T12:07:26.708+13:00

According to the Readers Digest, vets rank in the top ten of New Zealand’s most trusted professions. In fact, they rank number seven, two ahead of teachers, two behind doctors and three behind nurses.As both a farmer, which ranks 13 on the list, and a politician, which ranks 39, it was with great pleasure last week I announced the Government’s new Graduate Bonding Scheme with my colleagues,

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-73904156892552887222009-02-23T13:45:00.007+13:002009-02-23T13:54:18.140+13:00

I finished a full-on day in Hamilton last week with a bull parade. Some of New Zealand’s top dairy stud bulls were on display at a re-branding launch for the company CRV AmBreed. These impressive beasts are vital in the production of superior dairy cows.Genetic innovation results not only in increased productivity gain but has the potential to solve some of the challenges agriculture faces.

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-1999815135928380692009-02-23T13:29:00.005+13:002009-03-06T14:22:32.682+13:00

Last week I opened the Foundation for Arable Research - Maize Conference 2009. Over the past 30 years I have observed maize becoming an important component of New Zealand's primary sectors. Maize silage is now an integral part of the dairying system in New Zealand. It provides a good supplement to pasture, keeping stock in condition when pasture is limited, and it helps to increase milk

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-52010657058395368762009-02-10T10:43:00.008+13:002009-02-10T11:30:41.358+13:00

I spent a lot of time in airports last week. Getting from Wellington to the Australian capital, Canberra and back again is not straightforward. It did mean I had space for a couple of media interviews and a chance to chat with the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Murray Sherwin, who accompanied me. The trip to Australia was about building those important

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-91764702650947970362009-02-04T10:46:00.011+13:002009-05-21T08:41:12.653+12:00

I had the family in tow yesterday. They don’t often come to the Capital. Some MPs shift their families to Wellington but when I became an MP we made a conscious decision that home was Canterbury. It means I work out of the Christchurch office most Fridays and am home on the weekends.Listen to more about life on the farm >>We had the first official caucus catch-up of the year yesterday - an all

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-48038222399154517052009-02-02T13:40:00.011+13:002009-02-03T11:14:53.027+13:00

I was in Palmerston North last week and visited Massey University. I was really impressed, the science and innovation coming out of there is incredible.We have some bright, young things way ahead of the game, it was great to see.Part of my visit included a tour of the Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Sciences where I met some veterinary students and a dog named Patch - a blue

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4673456340229466841.post-12816577684433446032009-01-29T14:48:00.003+13:002009-05-21T08:38:42.562+12:00

We had a bit of fun on the farm this week with a photographer and our chickens.The chooks are a recent acquisition for the Carter family, and our story is being used for a feature in Your Weekend magazine (Saturday February 21 - The Dominion Post, The Press and Waikato Times) about the boom in backyard chook-keeping.Writer Adelia Hallett looks at the growing desire for chooks among urban folk as

David Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07166457422706075270noreply@blogger.com0