Biblioklept – a person who steals books; book thief.
Word of the day
09/10/2020
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Sowell says
09/10/2020
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Rural round-up
09/10/2020Tractors take to Gore streets as farmers protest freshwater rules – Rachael Kelly:
Southland farmers have made their feelings about the Government’s new freshwater rules known by clogging Gore’s main street with tractors.
More than 100 machines and some bulk sowers were driven through the town in protest of new rules for farmers, which the Government introduced in September with the aim of improving freshwater quality.
And as the big machines convoyed down the street, many shoppers stopped to watch, and other drivers tooted their horns in support.
It was the first major protest after Southland Federated Farmers president Geoffrey Young called on farmers to boycott the new rules in August. . .
Balance needed between regulation and innovation – Warwick Catto:
In recent years, New Zealand’s farmers have found themselves subject to increasingly strict rules and regulations.
These are mainly in terms of how they operate, enforced as a key part of our nation’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contamination in our waterways.
A quick review of the environmental policies announced so far by some of our key political parties, ahead of the election on October 17, suggests that further, harsher restrictions are likely.
There’s no doubt that our agricultural sector has a vitally important part to play in New Zealand’s response to these key environmental challenges, and overwhelmingly, farmers are more than willing to adapt to meet the standards required of them. . .
While the primary sector has been hailed as a saviour of the New Zealand economy during covid restrictions, a critical shortage of veterinarians and its impact on the primary sector just doesn’t seem to be viewed as important or sexy enough to see border restrictions streamlined.
“We’re led to the conclusion that veterinarians are just not viewed as important, or as sexy as other parts of the economy such as film making, which have seen wholesale exemptions created,” New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) chief executive Kevin Bryant says.
“This is surprising given veterinarians’ essential worker status during lockdown.
“We also understand that exemptions have been granted to build golf courses, build or repair racetracks and for shearers. Surely, veterinarians are at least as important in supporting the economic functioning of the country. . .
Headwaters sheep ‘definitely superior‘ –
‘‘Being part of The Omega Lamb Project really gives you the best of both worlds,’’ North Otago farmer Ben Douglas says.
Mr Douglas and wife Sarah, and his parents, David and Cindy, farm 6000ha Dome Hills Station, near Danseys Pass.
‘‘My father tried various breeds in the past but we’ve found the Headwaters sheep is definitely superior for our type of farming. We’re very happy with their resilience and their performance. Then you have a whole other side, with the special qualities of the Omega lambs, the omega 3, the good intramuscular fats and the exceptional flavour and texture,’’ he said.
The 100% Headwaters flock was already established at Dome Hills when Mr Douglas returned to the station six years ago, following his university studies and then a banking career in New Zealand and London. . .
It’s all kosher – Taggart – David Anderson:
Farmer-owned cooperative Alliance Group says it has already returned $17 million of the $34.3 million it claimed from the Covid-19 wage subsidy.
In a statement to Rural News, Alliance chairman Murray Taggart said the co-op had been “open and upfront” about the wage subsidy.
“We have been in ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Social Development about the application of the subsidy and stated from the outset that we would return any funds not used to pay people. In line with that commitment, we have returned $17 million of the subsidy.”
Taggart said the company’s application for the wage subsidy was supported and endorsed by the New Zealand Meat Workers Union. . .
Soil carbon influences climate, farm productivity– Professor Louis Schipper:
In the first of three articles about soil carbon, Prof Louis Schipper from the University of Waikato explains why soil carbon matters to farmers, what influences it and what we currently know about carbon stocks in New Zealand’s pastoral soils.
Soil carbon is one of the most talked-about subjects in agriculture.
That’s not surprising because carbon-rich soils support vigorous crop and pasture growth, and may be more resilient to stressors such as drought.
Changes in soil carbon stocks over time might also affect the climate. . .
Sheep farmers ask industries to make wool ‘first choice’:
Sheep producers are encouraging industries to make wool their choice of fibre as a campaign gets underway to highlight its natural qualities.
The sheep sector is celebrating the start of Wool Week (5 October – 18) today, and farmers are calling on politicians and green activists to back British wool.
The annual event aims to put a spotlight on wool’s natural performance qualities and ecological benefits.
The sector is keen to highlight the fact that fabrics such as polyester, nylon and acrylic are all forms of plastic and make up about 60% of the material that makes up clothes worldwide. . .
1 Comment | business, environment, Farming, food, rural | Tagged: Alliance Group, Ben Douglas, Cindy Douglas, Covid-19, David Anderson, David Douglas, Dome Hills, Federated Farmers, Geoffrey Young, Headwaters, Kevin Bryant, Murray Taggart, NZ Veterinary Association (NZVA), Omega Lamb Project, Professor Louis Schipper, Rachael Kelly, Sarah Douglas, Shelley Dew-Hopkins, soil carbon, Warwick Catto, Wool Week | Permalink
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Yes Sir Humphrey
09/10/2020
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NZ sheep & beef farms nearly carbon neutral
09/10/2020Science backs claims of New Zealand farming’s low emissions:
Independent research has found New Zealand’s sheep and beef farms are already close to being carbon neutral and strengthens calls for the formal recognition of on-farm sequestration.
The study led by Dr Bradley Case at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) estimates the woody vegetation on New Zealand sheep and beef farms is offsetting between 63 percent and 118 percent of their on-farm agricultural emissions.
If the mid-point in the report’s range is used, on average the woody vegetation on sheep and beef farms is absorbing about 90 percent of these emissions.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand CEO Sam McIvor says absolute greenhouse gas emissions from New Zealand sheep and beef production have reduced by 30 percent since 1990.
“This research shows that of the remaining emissions, the vast majority are being offset by the trees on our farms and New Zealand sheep and beef farmers are well on the way to being carbon neutral by 2050.”
The study reinforces the importance of farmers getting formal recognition for the sequestration happening on their farms, says Mr McIvor.
“Currently, most vegetation on sheep and beef farms does not qualify for inclusion in the ETS because it does not meet the definition of a forest. If farmers are to face a price for agricultural emissions, it’s only fair they get credit for their sequestration.
Farmers are liable for their animals’ emissions but get no credit for trees on their farms – that’s neither fair nor science-based.
“The focus to date on livestock’s climate change contribution has been on emissions, rather than on sequestration. But with any product it makes sense to consider the whole business – in this case, taking a whole of farm approach.
“The study should also reassure consumers that New Zealand beef and lamb is among the most sustainable in the world, and our farmers are making a significant contribution to addressing on-farm agricultural emissions.
“These findings should be of immense pride for New Zealand’s sheep and beef farmers, the 92,000 people employed in what is New Zealand’s largest manufacturing sector, and all New Zealanders.”
Dr Bradley Case, Senior Lecturer in GIS and Remote Sensing in the Applied Ecology Department, School of Science at AUT, said there is a strong case for farmers to get credit for the sequestration happening on their farms.
“This is an integral part of He Waka Eke Noa, the regulatory framework that industry and government are currently developing to manage agricultural emissions and recognise on-farm sequestration.
“This research not only builds understanding of the overall greenhouse gas contribution of the sheep and beef sector, but will help inform the development of policy, and further reinforce the outstanding biodiversity on sheep and beef farms.”
According to the AUT report, the woody vegetation is made up of 1.52 million hectares of native forest and 0.48 million hectares of exotic vegetation.
In addition to sequestering carbon, this vegetation delivers wider benefits for New Zealand’s biodiversity and freshwater ecosystems.
“The report identifies where sheep and beef farmers can focus on to continue to build the native vegetation and biodiversity on their farms,” says Dr Case.
“The regional maps in the research indicate where management is most needed to ensure mature/old growth forests are managed to prevent them becoming sources of atmospheric carbon.”
Importantly, the net carbon emissions estimation assumed a net-neutral rate for soil sequestration so the amount of sequestration happening could be even greater.
“While there is fairly good information about soil carbon stocks, there is not good data about yearly changes in soil sequestration and the science on this is still in development.”
About the research
The AUT research was commissioned by B+LNZ. The report was written by Dr Bradley Case and Catherine Ryan and was peer reviewed by Dr Fiona Carswell, Chief Scientist, Manaaki Whenua -Landcare Research and Dr Adam Forbes, Senior Ecologist, Forbes Ecology, Research Associate and New Zealand School of Forestry, University of Canterbury.
Further points to note
The study has not quantified the sequestration taking place on dairy farms, but the findings are helpful for the dairy farmers who do have sequestration happening on their farms and would like to get credit for this. The beef emissions figure in the research includes an allocation for dairy-beef.
The report uses GWP100, because this is the metric used internationally to compare greenhouse gases and it allows researchers to estimate emissions and subtract sequestration on the same basis.
B+LNZ has commissioned research by AgResearch to use this study to calculate a net carbon footprint for New Zealand beef and lamb and to investigate developing a carbon footprint using GWP*, a metric that new research indicates can better reflect the warming impact of different gases on the globe because of the way it accounts for short-lived emissions such as methane. . .
New Zealand farmers are the most efficient producers of beef and lamb in the world.
This research adds to our environmental credentials by showing that almost all emissions from our stock are off-set by carbon sequestration on farms.
You can read the summary report here.
You can read the full report here.
2 Comments | business, environment, Farming, food, politics, rural | Tagged: AgResearch, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Beef + Lamb NZ (B+LNZ), Dr Adam Forbes, Dr Bradley Case, Dr Fiona Carswell, Forbes Ecology, Manaaki Whenua (Landcare Research), Primary Sector Climate Change Commitment - He Waka Eke Noa, Sam McIvor, soil carbon, University of Canterbury School of Forestry | Permalink
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