In Focus this week...

• SealesWinslow general manager Grant Jackson says New Zealand’s high-performance dairy cattle need the right fuel to perform and he’s got some ideas on how to raise the octane. While pasture will remain the prime ingredient, there are ways to supercharge the nutritional mix.

• Federated Farmers says recent changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa Scheme have farmers worried about recruiting and retaining vital farm labour. Employment spokesperson Richard McIntyre says he’s seeking an urgent meeting with the government to discuss the issue.

• Senior reporter Richard Rennie takes a look at science funding – cuts to the public service have senior scientists worried about the future of agricultural research and development. He also discusses issues at the Environmental Protection Authority, which is taking longer and longer to approve vital innovations.