Climate ambassadors the next step in dairy’s plan :
Fifteen dairy farmers have been chosen to profile the climate change cause as New Zealand’s Climate Change Ambassadors.
This is the next step of the dairy sector’s plan to create a culture of climate conscious agribusiness amongst farmers and the broader dairy industry, says DairyNZ Chief Executive Tim Mackle.
“These fifteen men and women all represent best environmental farming practice for their farm system,” says DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle. “They run their farms profitably and sustainably and are serious about reducing on farm greenhouse gas emissions. . .
Savvy couple win at Dairy Industry awards – Stephen Bell:
Northland couple Dan and Gina Duncan are technologically savvy and care about people, the environment and cows and while doing very well at dairy farming.
Their efforts were rewarded when on Saturday night they were named the Share Farmers of the Year.
Gerard Boerjan from Hawke’s Bay-Wairarapa is Dairy Manager of the Year and Simone Smail from Southland is Dairy Trainee of the Year.
The judges said the Duncans are passionate, professional and committed. . .
Dairy trainee of the year grateful for employers’ support – Nicole Sharp:
In three years, 24-year-old Simone Smail, of Invercargill, has come a long way in the dairy industry.
Being presented the 2018 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year award at Stadium Southland on Saturday night, Miss Smail was overcome.
She thanked her family for their support, her bosses Steve and Tracy Henderson for giving her a start in the industry and everybody else she had met along the way. . .
Lamb prices expected to stay high – Simon Hartley:
Key lamb export markets are paying 14% more for product so far this season, with record highs for this time of year, ASB rural economist Nathan Penny says.
He said AgriHQ reported lamb supply remained tight and competition among processors was still keen given the relatively low levels of slaughter.
“It follows that underlying demand is also solid … all key export markets are paying 14% or more so far this season compared to last season.” . .
Increasing biodiversity is a priority at Craigmore Station – Kate Guthrie:
Every year David Bielski, manager of Craigmore Station in South Canterbury, plans to spend $50,000 of the station’s budget on fencing, planting trees and labour to increase biodiversity on the property.
An impressive 51 hectares of land already consists of native plant species and is under various QE II covenants and game keeper John Brownley has been controlling a full range of pests on the station for over 10 years.
“Our pest tally for last year was 120 feral cats, 30 ferrets, 13 stoats, 214 hedgehogs, 19 (recorded) rats, 260 rabbits, 155 possums, 6 wallabies and 57 hares,” David confirms. “Numbers go up and down. We try to minimise pests, but we never get on top of them.”. . .
Is Labour anti-farming? – Jamie Mackay:
Environment Minister David Parker has an interesting background in agriculture.
He oversaw the due diligence on both the science and the intellectual property for the A2 Corporation and was one of its first two employees. It’s now a $9 billion dollar company.
Unfortunately, for him, he sold his start-up shares to avoid a conflict of interest when he became a politician.
Here’s an interesting excerpt from an interview I did with him on my radio show last week: . . .
Farmer suicide research not a priority for govt:
A release of official documents confirms the Ardern-Peters Government does not consider further research into farmer suicide to be a high priority, National’s Associate Health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti says.
“Documents relating to a funding application for Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (RHAANZ) show how officials successfully persuaded the Minister of Health David Clark and the Minister for Primary Industries Damien O’Connor that further investment into farm related suicide research is not a priority at this stage,” Dr Reti says.
“This astounding admission continues the Government’s dismissive attitude towards rural mental health – further compounded by the refusal to commit to a school of rural health. . .
Future guardians get their hands dirty planting on Mauao – Scott Yeoman:
A busy winter season of planting has begun on Mauao in Mount Maunganui, with Ngāi Te Rangi’s future guardians getting their hands dirty and leading the way.
About 500 native plants were dug into a bank at the base of Mauao yesterday by 20 children under 5 and a team of adult helpers.
Ngāi Te Rangi’s Kia Maia Ellis said the Mauao Trust had a big kaupapa (policy) around restoring the korowai (cloak) at Mauao. . .
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