Early Bird I Wednesday October 16th 2024

International Rural Women’s Day celebrated across the country, Silver Fern Farms expands into the wool sector, and rural communities rally against bus routes. 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! International Rural Women’s Day celebrated across the country Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) commemorated International Rural Women's Day yesterday with events across the country, highlighting the significant contributions of rural women to their communities. The day's celebrations included a dinner event in Napier organised by Lower North Island Rural Women, while Southland Interprovincial Rural Women hosted a 'Bouncing Back from Adversity' event focused on health and wellbeing. In Alexandra, RWNZ sponsored the Inspiring Wāhine Conference, further demonstrating their commitment to supporting rural women. RWNZ National President Gill Naylor says that rural women often prioritise caring for family, friends, farms, animals, work, and community before themselves.  Naylor pointed out that today's rural women face challenges similar to those encountered by RWNZ's founders 99 years ago. These include overcoming isolation and dealing with limited access to services and opportunities that are more readily available in urban areas. She highlighted RWNZ's role in providing support and connection through its 121 active branches and groups. The organisation also aids rural communities through charitable work, funds, grant programs, and government advocacy. The first International Day of Rural Women was celebrated on October 15th 1995, and was promoted and organised by the WWSF, Women's World Summit Foundation. The United Nations adopted the date, and the day has been celebrated annually, since 2008. Silver Fern Farms expands into the wool sector Silver Fern Farms Co-operative is weaving a new thread into its business strategy, acquiring a 12.5% stake in WoolWorks. This move marks a significant shift for the red meat giant, as it looks to bolster returns for farmers. WoolWorks, based in Napier, stands as the world's largest wool scourer by volume. It handles 80% of New Zealand's wool clip, processing over 100 million kilograms annually. Anna Nelson, chair of the co-operative, says despite recent challenging trading conditions, this investment is  a key part of their plan to cultivate fresh revenue streams for farmers. This wool venture comes at a time when red meat prices, especially lamb, face significant headwinds. Soft demand from China and an influx of Australian product have put pressure on the market. In its last financial year, Silver Fern Farms reported a $24.4 million loss, with revenue dipping by nearly $500 million. However, the co-op maintains a solid financial footing, with over $35 million in short-term deposits at its last balance date. Nelson stresses the importance of improving wool returns to enhance the overall viability of sheep farming. This investment aligns with the co-operative's core mission of supporting its farmer-shareholders. WoolWorks president Nigel Hales sees growing demand for differentiated wool products, as manufacturers increasingly seek wool with enhanced environmental credentials, such as low carbon footprints, backed by traceable supply chains. Global regulators and commercial building specifiers are also eyeing natural products as sustainable alternatives, a trend that's gaining momentum rapidly in some markets. Rural communities rally against bus routes Rural communities are voicing strong concerns over the review and cancellation of school bus routes.  The Ministry of Education's routine evaluation has led to changes affecting numerous country families.This year alone, 176 routes have undergone review. Twenty-one routes have been terminated, while eleven have either been replaced or merged with others.  These changes are leaving many rural households worried about their children's access to education. James Meffan from the Ministry of Education explained that while caregivers hold the main duty for school transport, the ministry offers aid when distance or access create hurdles for students. However, current rules require at least eight students using a bus route for it to receive funding. Federated Farmers is taking action to defend rural routes with their education lead, Toby Williams, providing a list of solutions to the Government, urging an immediate review of eligibility criteria. Williams advocated for lowering the minimum number of students needed to maintain a route from eight to four. This change, he argues, would better reflect the realities of today's rural New Zealand, where community sizes have decreased. Another idea gaining traction is the integration of school and general rural transport. Williams called on Education Minister Erica Stanford and Transport Minister Simeon Brown to explore creating a mixed-use system.  Many country families have indicated they would gladly contribute a modest fee to retain their bus services. As Williams noted, when weighed against long daily drives, a small charge for bus travel becomes an easy choice for rural households. Police urge vigilance as thieves strike central Hawke's Bay farms Central Hawke's Bay Police are sounding the alarm on a recent surge in rural crime, with even the iconic Kiwi woolshed falling victim to burglars. Late last month, four shearing plants were stolen from a woolshed on Longrange Road, followed by another theft near Tikokino. In response, police are urging farmers to secure all sheds, including woolsheds, and ensure all farm equipment is locked away. The rural crime wave has also seen an aluminium dog-box taken from a ute parked on Nichols Road about two weeks ago. Authorities are seeking witnesses who may have seen the theft or been offered a suspiciously cheap aluminium dog-box. Senior Constable Andy Walker emphasised that many of these thefts were opportunistic. He reiterated the importance of locking sheds and securing property to deter would-be thieves. Meat sector seeks fresh talent with new scholarship programme The Meat Industry Association is reaching out to students keen on building a career in New Zealand's red meat sector with a new scholarship initiative aimed to attract talent to the industry beyond the farm gate. As New Zealand's largest manufacturing industry, meat processing and exporting contributes over $11 billion annually to our economy. Recent decades have seen the sector transform, embracing new technologies, automating production, and conquering fresh markets worldwide. From food design and environmental science to marketing and industrial innovation, the sector offers diverse career tracks. Beyond financial aid, the program offers robust mentoring. Scholars will attend annual workshops, connect with industry leaders, and receive help securing work experience in meat processing.  Undergraduate awards are open to current Bachelor's or diploma students, as well as those starting in 2025. Post-graduate funding is available for Masters or Doctoral candidates.  Interested students should apply online by November 27, with more information available on the MIA website, www.mia.co.nz  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.