The latest round of Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) funding has been spread across forestry, merino wool and arable farming organisations.

Agriculture and Forestry Minister David Carter said today $20 million would be split between the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, the Foundation for Arable Research and the New Zealand Merino Company (NZMC) reports The ODT. At slightly over $15m, NZMC will get the lion’s share of the funding, and with their own funding input included, the three government-industry partnerships will be worth over $45m.The government funds will be received over five to seven years and Mr Carter said the economic spin-offs could amount to billions of dollars “if the proposals’ scientific and market research and product development are brought to fruition”.

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 Shearing icon David Fagan produced a stunning return to the top to win his 16th Golden Shears open title in Masterton – 23 years after his first triumph reports Stuff. Fagan, 47, of Te Kuiti, had won the title 12 times in a row from 1990 to 2001, and again in 2004 and 2005. He featured in a remarkable final on Saturday night, with 52 seconds separating the six finalists after 20 sheep. Fagan was first off the board in 15min 56.96s, beating 2006 winner Dion King of Napier by less than 1.5s, and just after the tailender, Taranaki-based Scotsman Gavin Mutch, went in for his last.

It was a tense wait before Fagan could be confirmed the winner, by half-a-point from world champion Paul Avery of Stratford, whose craftsmanship went close to helping him snatch the Golden Shears title for the third time.Fagan finished with 58.088 points, Avery 58.607, and third was former New Zealand open champion Dean Ball, another Te Kuiti veteran, with 58.832.

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