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More than 2000 farmers will be helped with on-the-ground support to lift their environmental sustainability and unlock more value for their hard work as part of Budget 2019 funding, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says a conditional ban on the live export of cattle is one of several options being considered as part of a review of the trade in live animals. 

The Government is backing New Zealand’s vital primary sectors by boosting funding for biosecurity, research, food safety and animal welfare compliance, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.

Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor today announced changes to the legislation governing the dairy industry.

​​​​​​​The Wellbeing Budget provides opportunities to grow and modernise New Zealand’s economy while ensuring a just transition to a low emissions future. We need to preserve and enhance our environment, as part of the foundation for our long-term wellbeing.

Almost 8,000 dairy farming locations are yet to re-register with the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme ahead of Moving Day.

The Government has announced an extra $400,000 to help West Coasters recover from the devastating March floods. A medium-scale adverse event in the Westland District has also now been declared.

The findings of the independent review into New Zealand’s biosecurity passenger and mail controls released earlier today are pleasing and will be valuable for future planning, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor said.

Proposed law changes to further improve the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme were unveiled today by Minister for Biosecurity Damien O’Connor.

Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor has today expressed his thanks to Biosecurity New Zealand, the horticulture industry and everyone working on the fruit fly response in Auckland, as well as residents in the affected suburbs.

New survey research, released today, shows farmers are focused on sustainability and the impacts of climate change more than ever.

Minister for Rural Communities Damien O’Connor has welcomed the Minister of Health’s commitment to develop rural health training hubs.

Government Ministers Damien O’Connor and Eugenie Sage are visiting the West Coast to see how flood recovery work is going and hear views of the local community.

Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor says he is disappointed in the lack of unity between commercial beekeepers, as demonstrated by the failed apiculture commodity levy.

Changes to the Terms of Reference for the Interim Climate Change Committee will better prepare the Government to initiate meaningful change to key legislation, addressing the implications of our changing climate.

New Zealand’s primary sector exports continue to exceed expectations with revenue forecast to grow 6.9% on the previous financial year.  

Minister for Agriculture and Rural Communities Damien O’Connor announced today that the medium-scale event classification for the Tasman drought would be extended to cover Marlborough and Buller as well as Nelson.

Hundreds of fruit fly traps will be checked daily and monitoring of the greater Auckland region will be stepped up following the discovery of a second Queensland fruit fly, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor said.

Minister for Biosecurity Damien O’Connor says the second find of an unwanted fruit fly is disappointing and the Government is committed to ensuring it doesn’t establish here.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor travels to the United Arab Emirates this evening and then onto Egypt for meetings on trade, food security and agricultural technology.  

A New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement was top of mind in discussions today between Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and the EU’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan.