New Zealand: Rural Report for Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Rural Report for Tuesday, July 31, 2007

31/07/2007 11:40:26
The Food Safety Authority is satisfied with the fine handed out to an Auckland farmer who pleaded guilty to using a plant pesticide on his cattle.
Carl Houghton of Waimauku has been ordered to pay $15,000 plus court costs for spraying endosulfan on his animals at his farm at Waimauku and failing to notify the processing plant when the animals went for slaughter.
His actions led to the suspension of New Zealand beef exports to Korea in September 2005. Beef exports to seven other markets were also potentially affected.
Judge Moore told Horton that what happened was a disaster of national importance. He says while the sentence was the absolute minimum, it highlighted the need to send a very clear message to the farming community. He says there was still a major problem concerning farmers' attitudes towards agricultural chemicals.
Geoff Allen from the Food Safety Authority, says the contaminated meat resulted in the loss of lucrative Korean military contracts which accounted for around 35 percent of New Zealand's beef exports. The farmer's actions also caused the biggest and costliest investigations Food and Safety had ever carried out.
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Federated Farmers is hopeful the stalled Doha round of world trade talks is finally back on track.
President George Bush and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown say they are optimistic about finalising an agreement after talks at Camp David.
Federated Farmers says the sticking point has been US farm subsidies.
President Charlie Pedersen is welcoming positive indications from Mr Bush that he is willing to make big cuts to US farm subsidies.
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A North Canterbury-based wool company is developing a new product that is helping it stay ahead in a struggling industry.
The babies' blanket is made by Mid Micron Wool New Zealand is very light but with a lot of bulk.
Twenty-four blankets will be included in the range which will be exported to America, Europe and Australia.