The climate change blame-game:
In spite of the abuse heaped on farmers by urbanites, the causes of climate change are a town and country problem.
By most key measures, and even counting food miles for our exports, we already are. But that message needs amplifying.
Never mind the world stage – farmers need defending at home against the current fashion for demonising them as the prime culprits for greenhouse-gas emissions and water pollution. . .
Farmers’ inner-city BBQs aim to boost urban connections, mental health – Maja Burry:
A farming group is hosting barbecues in cities around the country to try to strengthen the relationship between rural and city people.
Ag Proud, a group formed by Southland farmers, aims to promote positive farm practices and raise awareness around mental health in the farming-sector.
Dairy farmer and Ag Proud co-founder, Jon Pemberton, said a recent winter grazing campaign by environmentalists in his region and some of the stress that had created among farmers sparked the group’s formation. . .
Celebrity chef Al Brown pledges support for NZ farmers, takes swipe at ‘urban keyboard warriors’ – Angie Skerrett:
Celebrity chef Al Brown has taken a swipe at “urban keyboard warriors” he claims criticise farmers unnecessarily.
Brown posted a message on his Facebook page pledging his support for New Zealand farmers and calling on city-dwellers to stop bagging them.
“I just want to say thank you to our farmers of New Zealand,” the Depot owner wrote. . .
‘M. bovis’ costs $203m to date – Brent Melville:
The costs of Mycoplasma bovis to the agricultural sector continue to stack up.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says the eradication programme has cost more than $203million to date – excluding compensation to farmers.
In that respect MPI has received a total of 1450 claims with a value of $109.9million and has so far completed 1100 of those, cutting cheques to farmers valued at about $96.5million.
According to the latest figures from MPI more than 116,526 cattle and cows have been culled in just over two years since the M. bovis eradication programme was launched.
That’s getting close to initial estimates that around 126,000 animals would be culled during the course of a multi-year surveillance and eradication strategy, or around 1% of New Zealand’s cattle population. . .
New dehorning rules are here :
New rules will require pain relief when dehorning and disbudding cattle.
From tomorrow, new rules require people working with cattle to use local anaesthetic when dehorning and disbudding.
Veterinarian and director animal health and welfare Dr Chris Rodwell says removing horns or horn buds is necessary on the farm to keep animals safe from each other, as well as for human safety.
“These regulations highlight that removal is painful and those carrying it out need to reduce the pain experienced. . .
Wool price rebounds after dip :
After an extremely turbulent few weeks, fine-mid wool growers are breathing a sigh of relief that prices are on the mend.
The US-China trade war has been affecting demand, with factories in China feeling reluctant to buy wool to make garments they might struggle to sell.
PGG Wrightson South Island sales manager for wool Dave Burridge said at its peak three weeks ago mid-fine wool prices in New Zealand were down 50 percent compared to the same time last year, but they had now made a notable recovery, sitting about 25 percent back on 2018 levels. . .
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