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Otago Daily Times
25-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
'Top farmer' posthumously named Rural Hero
The late Mid Canterbury farmer Chris Allen was posthumously named Rural Hero in a touching moment at the Primary Industries New Zealand Awards. Mr Allen, 62, died after he was electrocuted while fixing a garage door last December, leaving a rural community paying tribute to his leadership and negotiating skills as a Federated Farmers board member for eight years. In other highlights Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty sharefarmer chairwoman Bridie Virbickas was presented with the Emerging Leader Award at the annual awards ceremony in Christchurch. More than 400 farmers and industry people attended the function, part of the two-day Primary Industries New Zealand (PINZ) Summit. Mr Allen's contribution to farming led supporters to say every farming family was in his debt for his years of championing rural causes. Judges praised the collaborative nature, persistence and practicality of the Federated Farmers leader for his advocacy on freshwater, environmental and biodiversity issues. "A top farmer in his own right, he led with humour and knowledge." The judging panel described Ms Virbickas as making a strong mark in the dairy sector - managing 850 cows while leading beyond the farm gate. As an elected sharefarmer leader, she supports fellow farmers in areas such as dispute resolution, and practical workshops. She is also a founding trustee of AgRecovery, helping reduce farm waste nationwide, and leads on-farm restoration projects with schools and councils. Southland farmer and NZ Pork chairman since 2019 Eric Roy was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Primary Industries Award. His production, leadership and political service to primary industries and rural communities spans nearly 60 years. The six-term Member of Parliament has held roles with Federated Farmers, Pāmu, the Meat & Wool Board and other community and charity initiatives. "Few can match his contribution - Eric Roy is a truly exceptional New Zealander," the judging panel said. NZPork deputy chairman Jason Palmer said his decades of service to farming, rural communities and public life reflected a commitment to doing the right thing. 'He has provided invaluable leadership to NZPork during his time as chairman on our board, helping shape the future of sustainable pig farming in New Zealand. We're really pleased to see that contribution recognised at a national level.' A Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) project to help farmers get the most out of their combine harvesters won the Technology Innovation Award. Workshops and follow-up one-on-one sessions resulted in improvements in harvest efficiency, productivity, sustainability and profitability. Farmers reported increases in yields of between 20% and 50%. FAR technology manager Chris Smith said the workshops showed the importance of growers measuring and monitoring potential grain and seed losses and fine-tuning settings. 'Growers have only one opportunity to harvest a crop. Once it is gone out the back of the harvester it is too late.' The Team and Collaboration Award went to Fonterra, LIC, Ballance and Ravensdown for an open data sharing ecosystem, saving farmers an estimated 250,000 hours so far in administration. Dr Robyn Dyne won the Primary Industries Champion Award for her research in nitrate leaching and emissions. Food, Beverage and Fibre Producer Award winners Chia Sisters combines fruit and ingredients such as kawakawa and chia seeds in their health food drinks and were singled out for their commitment to sustainability and innovation. PacificVet and co-founder Dr Kent Keitemeyer won the Guardianship and Conservation/Kaitiakitanga Award.
NZ Herald
24-06-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
2025 Primary Industries New Zealand Awards: Emerging and seasoned leaders honoured
A young Federated Farmers leader building her expertise advocating for the sector, and a man who became a master at it, are among those recognised in the 2025 Primary Industries New Zealand Awards. Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty sharefarmer chair Bridie Virbickas was presented with the Emerging Leader Award, and
NZ Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Primary Industries New Zealand Awards finalists announced for 2025
'Their efforts inspire others and lift the employment prospects and standard of living for fellow Kiwis.' Rural Hero of the Year finalists Rural Hero finalists are (the late) Chris Allen, Neil Bateup and Ian Jury. Allen, who died in an accident on his Ashburton farm last December, gave 14 years' service as an elected Federated Farmers leader, including eight years on the national board. A champion of rural causes, he steered a pragmatic and balanced approach on environment and water issues, earning respect from farmers and those with opposing views. Neil Bateup helped set up the Waikato Hauraki Coromandel Rural Support Trust in 2004 and became the founding chairman of the NZ Rural Support Trust in 2017. He's given countless hours supporting farmers and rural families facing hard times. The third Rural Hero finalist is Ian Jury, an 85-year-old who for 20 years has been raising money for the Taranaki rescue helicopter by collecting batteries for recycling. Emerging Leader Award finalists Four young women selected as Emerging Leader Award finalists illustrate the depth of talent fostered in New Zealand's primary industries. Bridie Virbickas succeeded in her bid for one of the hotly-contested DairyNZ associate director roles and followed that by joining waste recycling enterprise AgRecovery as a foundation trustee. A contract milker who has overseen the expansion of her employing farm from 270 to 850 cows, she put up her hand to be Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty sharefarmer chairwoman to ensure a voice for the district's young farmers is at the decision-making table. The role has seen her help in several cases where the relationship between a sharefarmer and farm owner had broken down. Imogen Brankin has only been with Silver Fern Farms for three years, but the On-Farm Sustainability Advisor has organised 60 'Know Your Number' climate change workshops. She was the winner of the 2022 Polson Higgs and Young Farmers Innovation Competition, speaking on the topic 'Can Farming Deliver a Sustainable Future for New Zealand', and was part of a team of five who competed in the 2023 IFAMA Global Case Study Competition. Newly appointed Onions NZ general manager Kazi Talaska has served on the Food and Fibre Youth Council, latterly as chairwoman, and champions the Vegetable Industry Centre of Excellence to support the vegetable industry research pipeline. Talaska worked with industry partners and growers to obtain $2 million in funding to set up a first-of-its-kind vegetable research farm in Pukekohe. The fourth Emerging Leader Award finalist is agricultural sustainability coach Lucy Brown. Through her work with the Ministry for Primary Industries-funded Integrated Farm Planning project and in other roles, she's found ways to show farmers that sustainability is not just a theoretical concept but something practical and achievable. Champion Award Molesworth Station manager James (Jim) Ward is up against senior AgResearch scientists Dr Robyn Dynes and David Wheeler for the Champion Award. For nearly two decades, Ward has been a force on the Federated Farmers High Country committee and the Wilding Pine Network NZ, where he has tirelessly advocated for change, shaped policies and driven meaningful improvements for New Zealand high-country farmers. Starting as farm manager at Molesworth in 2001, Ward has faced and overcome countless challenges to ensure the station remains economically viable through a blend of pastoral farming, conservation and recreation values, all under the microscope of the public eye. Wheeler has worked hard to bridge the gap between environmental stewardship and agricultural productivity, shaping and improving the farm management tool Overseer. Dynes, a principal scientist and farmer engagement specialist in AgResearch, has had a highly regarded science career focused on farming systems at the interface between forage science and animal science. Food, Beverage and Fibre Producer Award finalists Southland farmer Grant Lightfoot is a finalist for the Food, Beverage and Fibre Producer Award. He created edible and biodegradable bale netting made from jute. It's an environment-friendly alternative to plastic netting, which isn't recyclable and is often ingested by livestock. The two other cont e nders in this category are Chia Sisters, who produce a gut health-supporting drink from a golden kiwifruit probiotic, kawakawa and hail-damaged cherries, and New Image International, which exports health and beauty products to millions of people around the world. 2025 Primary Industries NZ Award finalists Emerging Leader Award (Lincoln University) Bridie Virbickas, Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty sharemilker chairwoman Imogen Brankin, on-farm sustainability adviser, Silver Fern Farms Kazi Talaska, general manager, Onions NZ Lucy Brown, The Whole Story Champion Award (BASF) David Wheeler, senior scientist, AgResearch James (Jim) Ward, manager, Molesworth Station Dr Robyn Dynes, principal scientist and farmer engagement specialist, AgResearch Team & Collaboration Award (Overseer) nProve for Beef – online genetics tool, Beef + Lamb New Zealand Food System Integrity Team, AgResearch, led by Dr Gale Brightwell Advertisement Advertise with NZME. An open data sharing ecosystem: Fonterra, Ballance, Ravensdown and LIC. Technology Innovation Award (AsureQuality Kaitiaki Kai) TEO for Ovitage, the world's most complete collagen FAR for Combine Workshops - increasing productivity on arable farms Alliance Group NZ for Meat Eating Quality (MEQ) technology Food, Beverage and Fibre Producer Award (Kotahi) Chia Sisters Kiwi Econet – founder, Grant Lightfoot New Image International Guardianship & Conservation/Kaitiakitanga Award (Rabobank) Pāua Dashboard – Pāua Industry Council The eDNA for water quality team, led by Dr Adrian Cookson Pacificvet, co-founder Kent Deitemeyer Rural Hero of the Year (Fern Energy) Chris Allen (posthumous) Neil Bateup, founder, Rural Support Trust Ian Jury, Taranaki grassroots good sort The winner will be announced on the night.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Science Translational Medicine Study Funded by the Bay Area Lyme Foundation Identifies FDA-approved Piperacillin as More Effective, Targeted Treatment for Lyme Disease
An additional Science Translational Medicine study also funded by Bay Area Lyme Foundation uncovers how lingering bacterial cell wall molecules may contribute to chronic Lyme symptoms PORTOLA VALLEY, Calif., April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a leading sponsor of Lyme disease research in the US, announces two pre-clinical studies published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Translational Medicine. The studies demonstrate promising implications for improved Lyme disease treatment and understanding of chronic Lyme through peptidoglycan, a molecule found in the cell wall of the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), which causes Lyme disease. The first study finds piperacillin, an FDA-approved treatment for pneumonia that inhibits peptidoglycan production, may be a more effective treatment for Lyme disease than the current 'gold standard' treatment, doxycycline, which is not effective for up to 20% of patients. The second study uncovers how lingering peptidoglycan builds up in the joint fluid and liver, contributing to chronic Lyme symptoms, which affect over 20% of patients treated for Lyme disease. 'Piperacillin may be a game-changer for improving Lyme disease treatment, which is currently a challenge for researchers and physicians. Furthermore, our new mechanistic understanding of how piperacillin affects peptidoglycan synthesis is unexpectedly informing our development of a biomarker-based approach to diagnose acute Lyme disease,' said Brandon Jutras, PhD, associate professor of Microbiology-Immunology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and a Bay Area Lyme Foundation 2021 Emerging Leader Award winner. 'Our second study explores the role of peptidoglycan in chronic Lyme symptoms; peptidoglycan influences an inflammatory and chronic illness response for weeks or even months after infection, adding to the growing evidence that remnants of bacteria and viruses can stick around and keep affecting the body, similar to the occurrence of Long COVID in some patients.' In the first study, researchers screened nearly 500 FDA-approved compounds using a wide range of scientific techniques to identify potential treatments for Lyme disease. Piperacillin stood out as a top performer in laboratory studies, effectively killing the Lyme-causing bacterium at very low concentrations by targeting its unique peptidoglycan cell-wall pattern. In pre-clinical models, piperacillin cured infection at doses 100 times lower than doxycycline, a standard Lyme treatment, and did so without disrupting the gut microbiome. These findings suggest that piperacillin could become a promising new option for specifically treating Lyme disease when administered at low doses. The second study focused on the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, and its unique cell wall component called peptidoglycan. This molecule was found to persist in joint fluids in human samples, potentially driving inflammation and long-term health issues. Using pre-clinical models, the team discovered that the liver acts as a 'storage site' for bacterial peptidoglycan, where it can remain for weeks or months, unlike peptidoglycan produced by other bacteria. The presence of peptidoglycan triggered changes in immune responses and energy metabolism like fatigue and inflammation. These findings suggest that lingering bacterial molecules like peptidoglycan could play a role in chronic Lyme disease, drawing parallels to other chronic conditions like Long COVID, where persistent antigens may contribute to ongoing heath issues. 'Dr. Jutras' findings show great potential for improving Lyme disease treatments and identifying the mechanisms causing persistent and chronic Lyme disease, informing new potential avenues for diagnostics and therapeutics,' said Linda Giampa, executive director of Bay Area Lyme Foundation. 'It is rewarding for all of us at Bay Area Lyme Foundation to have seen the progress of Dr. Jutras' work from when we selected him as an Emerging Leader Award winner in 2021 through this promising research, which closely aligns with our mission of making Lyme disease easy to diagnose and simple to cure.' Together, these studies represent a significant advancement in understanding and treating Lyme disease. Bay Area Lyme Foundation remains committed to supporting innovative science that not only deepens our understanding of Lyme disease but also accelerates the development of more targeted diagnostics and therapies to improve patient outcomes. About Lyme disease The most common vector-borne infectious disease in the US, Lyme disease is a potentially disabling infection caused by bacteria transmitted through the bite of an infected tick to people and pets, and may also be passed from a pregnant mother to her unborn baby. If caught early, most cases of Lyme disease can be effectively treated, but it is commonly misdiagnosed due to lack of awareness and inaccurate diagnostic tests. There are approximately 500,000 new cases of Lyme disease each year, according to statistics released in 2018 by the CDC. As a result of the difficulty in diagnosing and treating Lyme disease, up to two million Americans may be suffering from the impact of its debilitating long-term symptoms and complications, according to Bay Area Lyme Foundation estimates. About Bay Area Lyme Foundation Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a national organization committed to making Lyme disease easy to diagnose and simple to cure, is the leading public not-for-profit sponsor of innovative Lyme disease research in the US. A 501c3 organization based in Silicon Valley, Bay Area Lyme Foundation collaborates with world-class scientists and institutions to accelerate medical breakthroughs for Lyme disease. It is also dedicated to providing reliable, fact-based information so that prevention and the importance of early treatment are common knowledge. A pivotal donation from The LaureL STEM FUND covers overhead costs and allows for 100% of all donor contributions to Bay Area Lyme Foundation go directly to research and prevention programs. For more information about Lyme disease or to get involved, visit or call us at 650-530-2439. Media contact: Tara DiMilia Phone: 908-369-7168 Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump nominates Georgia state Sen Brandon Beach for US treasurer
President Donald Trump late Wednesday took to Truth Social to announce Georgia state Sen. Brandon Beach as the next U.S. treasurer. The 63-year-old Louisiana native was elected as a Republican Georgia state senator in 2013. He represents District 21, which includes parts of Cherokee and Fulton counties. "Brandon helped us secure a Massive and Historic Victory for our Movement in the Great State of Georgia, and has been doing an incredible job in the Georgia State Senate since 2012. As our next Treasurer, Brandon will uphold the Values of Fiscal Responsibility, Economic Growth, and help unleash America's Golden Age," Trump wrote in the post. "Congratulations Brandon!" Top Dem Used Same App Used In Atlantic Scandal To Set Up Contact With Steele Dossier Author A graduate of Centenary College of Louisiana State University and Louisiana Frost School of Business, Beach won the Legislator of the Year Award from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in 2017 and the Emerging Leader Award from GOPAC Inc. in April 2023. He also serves as the president and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and president and CEO of the North Fulton Community Improvement District. Read On The Fox News App Under his leadership, the district invested more than $2 million to bring $30 million in new infrastructure to the area, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Community boards he serves on include the Regional Business Coalition, Grady Hospital Board of Visitors, the Greater Metro Atlanta American Heart Association, Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Encore Park, and the Historic Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau, according to the department. Beach currently lives in Alpharetta, Georgia, and shares two children with his wife, Shuntel Paille Beach. 'Stop Them!': Democrat Clashes With Trump Social Security Nominee Over Doge Access Following Beach's nomination, Trump announced via Truth Social that Brent Bozell will serve as U.S. Ambassador to South Africa. "Brent is the Founder of the Media Research Center [MRC], which has exposed Fake News hypocrites for many years," Trump wrote in the post. "Brent brings fearless tenacity, extraordinary experience, and vast knowledge to a Nation that desperately needs it. Congratulations Brent!" Prior to founding the MRC, Bozell served as president of the National Conservative Political Action Committee and the National Conservative Foundation. The University of Dallas alumnus serves as chairman of ForAmerica, an organization "committed to restoring America to its founding principles." He is married with five children and seventeen grandchildren. The Georgia Senate Press Office and Beach did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for article source: Trump nominates Georgia state Sen Brandon Beach for US treasurer
