Government expands drought support as dry conditions bite along the east coast
28 Apr, 2021 04:30 AM
2 minutes to read
The Country
The Government will boost its drought support to new parts of the country and continue helping farmers in areas facing long-term dry conditions, Agriculture and Rural Communities Minister Damien O Connor says.
An extra $900,000 of funding will be used to help farmers around the country, with the current large-scale adverse event classification expanded to include Mid Canterbury, South Canterbury, and Otago. Autumn has got off to an extremely dry start in multiple regions along the east coast of the country. Forecast rainfall is not expected to be enough to allow parched soils and pastures time to recover before winter, O Connor said.
Court order boosts funding plea as lawmakers build budget
JOHN O CONNOR, AP Political Writer
April 25, 2021
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1of3Tyrone T., left, and Jack L., discuss their jobs which have been on hold because of the COVID 19 pandemic in this April 1, 2021, photo at the Springfield, Ill., group home they live in operated by Sparc, an agency devoted to assisting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A state study prompted by a federal consent decree reports that it would cost the state $329 million this year alone to meet the 2011 court order s demands expanded community-based housing, training and the reduction of a list of 18,000 awaiting services. Sparc is prohibited by law from releasing full names of its residents.John O Connor/APShow MoreShow Less
Damien O Connor & Jacinda Ardern defend live animal export ban
14 Apr, 2021 02:30 AM
4 minutes to read
Agriculture Minister Damien O Connor. Photo / Supplied
The Country
Agriculture Minister Damien O Connor admits a live export ban will be a blow for some farmers, but dealing with change is part of the job. This morning, the Government confirmed plans to ban live animal exports from 2023.
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The two-year transitional period would give people time to find another area of opportunity, O Connor told The Country s Jamie Mackay. There will be emerging opportunities in the primary sector. There has always been change and I think that we re some of the most adaptive farmers and people in the world and that will continue.