August 12, 2014
New focus will boost Maori production
The head of Beef + Lamb New Zealand says it’s important for the whole sector to improve profits and productivity.
Beef + Lamb has teamed up with the Federation of Maori Authorities to create two new kaiarahi ahuwhenua positions to work with Maori farmers.
Scott Champion says William McMillan and Anaru Smiler will oversee a number of existing projects and bring their own considerable experience in agricultural research and farm development to the job.
He says gains can be made by changing the mix of pasture or genetics on individual farms.
"We know that reseeding rates to put down new pasture species is quite low on an annual basis. Sometimes the use of estimated breeding values which help identify a better ram or a better bull can be quite low as well. It's going to be different for every farm and one of the things we wanted to do by getting some focus into the Maori sector was to enable us to weork alongside individual operations to pick what tools and services, products and services that are right for that operaiton and help them to make the gains they want to make," he says.
Mr Champion says the annual Ahuwhenua Trophy for outstanding Maori farms is a great way to showcase excellence and promote innovation.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH SCOTT CHAMPION CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjEwMTM=
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