Word of the day

Macer – a court officer in Scotland charged with keeping order, executing warrants, and similar duties; a mace bearer.

Sowell says

“The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.”
– Eric Hoffer

— Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) November 26, 2020

Rural round-up

Farm group challenges MPs on climate change emergency:

A group of farmers and scientists set up to present facts on ruminant Methane are challenging MP’s about the popular claim that 48% of NZ’s emissions that constitute the emergency come from agriculture. The group have told MPs that the Ministry of the Environment has fabricated evidence on climate to support claims of deteriorating weather resulting from climate change. They are misleading the public and falsely blaming farmers to concoct an emergency.

The letter also claims that the natural Carbon/Methane cycle is ignored to make it look like farmers are responsible for a much higher level of emissions than is actually occurring.

F.A.R.M.’s Chairman, Robin Grieve said, “Farms are utilising as much CO2 as they produce when they grow grass and sequester CO2 in the soil. While the country’s livestock numbers are stable, as they have been for a decade, no additional Methane is entering the atmosphere so no new warming is occurring.  . .

Largest drop in terms of trade in a decade as dairy export prices sour:

Lower export prices for dairy, meat, and logs in the September 2020 quarter led to the biggest drop in terms of trade since June 2009, Stats NZ said today.

Export prices fell in the September 2020 quarter, down 8.3 percent from its highest ever level in June 2020. This is the third largest fall in export prices since the series began. Import prices fell 3.7 percent, resulting in a terms of trade fall of 4.7 percent.

The terms of trade measures the purchasing power of New Zealand’s exports abroad and is an indicator of the state of the overall economy. A fall in the terms of trade means the country can buy fewer imports for the same amount of exports.

“Export prices for dairy products fell 12 percent overall in the quarter,” business prices manager Bryan Downes said. . . 

1st #NZLamb draft of the season, off the #FernFlats this morning. Damp but exciting. The rain has been great but future lambs will enjoy a bit more sun. We’ll soon find out what they are worth. #Ezicare lambs. pic.twitter.com/9VpqEwXET2

— William Morrison (@MorrisonFarming) December 1, 2020

Cheesemakers encouraged to enter Champions of Cheese Awards:

While most Kiwis are considering what local cheese to enjoy this festive season, NZ Cheesemakers are being encouraged to enter the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2021.

Entry opens on Tuesday 1 December and entries will be accepted until Wednesday 3 February. Judging for the 19th NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2021 will be held at Ignite Colleges on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 February 2021. Medal winners will be named on Tuesday 16 March with the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards Gala Dinner in Hamilton on Wednesday 5 May 2021.

The Awards are owned and organised by the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association (NZSCA) and NZSCA chair Neil Willman said they celebrate the best NZ cheese as well as helping improve quality by providing benchmarking and feedback to cheesemakers. He says the Awards play a key part in the Association’s promotion of local cheese. . . 

Venture Taranaki report shows 207,000 hectares of Taranaki land suitable for horticulture:

Venture Taranaki has released an assessment on Taranaki’s land and climate, which provides an overview of our region’s growing capability, and the opportunity to help meet long-term goals of building diversity, value, sustainability, and market and supply-chain resilience.

A key finding of the released Taranaki Land and Climate Assessment is that there are around 207,000 hectares of land potentially suitable for generic horticulture within the boundaries of the Taranaki Regional Council.

The eight mainstream crops covered in the assessment include apples, kiwifruit, avocados, blueberries, hops, hemp and CBD cannabis, hazelnuts and walnuts, potatoes, and wine grapes. . . 

MPI calls for proposals to research regenerative farming practices:

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is calling for proposals for projects that will investigate regenerative farming practices.

Funding for successful proposals is available through MPI’s Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) co-investment fund. The fund aims to have projects under way by mid-2021.

“There is increasing interest from farmers and the wider community about regenerative agricultural practices, but definitions for regenerative agriculture can vary dramatically,” says Steve Penno, MPI’s Director Investment Programmes.

“We’re looking to define what regenerative agriculture means from a New Zealand perspective, and develop a sound evidence base to test and confirm what works in our soils, climates, and farming systems.” . . 

Hey girls, whassup? #Abla demonstrates the advantages of a flip top head pic.twitter.com/4AWkXcNdHV

— Calliss Clan (@CallissClan) November 30, 2020

Australian agriculture already where it needs to be – Georgie Somerset:

Against all the odds stacked against us – drought, floods, bushfires, COVID, and disruptions to international trade – Australian farmers produce world-class food and fibre for the rest of the country and the world to enjoy.

We do it by caring for our two greatest assets (besides our people): our land, and our livestock. To do otherwise undermines everything about farming itself.

We need our land kept in the best condition possible; we need happy, healthy animals to ensure we deliver the best quality produce. It doesn’t work, at least not very well, any other way.

As an industry, we have already reduced CO2 emissions, down more than 55 per cent since 2005, increased documented biosecurity plans for cattle properties, up from 25 to 90 per cent, achieved 99 per cent compliance with Australian standards for chemical residues, decreased our water usage, and improved the use of pain relief for livestock. . . 

 

Yes Sir Humphrey

Real reductions in the size of the Service? It'd be the end of civilisation as we know it!

— Sir Humphrey Appleby (@YesSirHumphrey) November 23, 2020

A lesson from the gospel of greenwash

In the beginning there were words and the words were many and the words were warm and they were well meant.

However, the actions that followed the words were few and some of the direction was backwards and the progress was tiny..

But the people liked the words and the warmth and they didn’t listen to the ones who pointed out that style over substance was not good and they voted for more.

And the people got more words and the words were strong and they spoke of an emergency and they foretold doom unless a declaration was made.

And so a declaration was made and a cloud of hot air rose as policy was announced.

Verily the servants of the public shall drive vehicles powered by electricity and it matters not that the prophet who knows the science says electric cars are good fun for wealthy virtue signallers, but a dreadful way to save the planet and the rich world’s drive to electric cars gets us nowhere.

Some heard the prophet and they declared that science was essential and that policy must have a positive impact and to beware of the devil in the details.

But the people didn’t heed the prophet and his followers. They shut their eyes to the detail and their ears to those who said that planting trees could not offset emissions from fossil fuels but they could offset methane from stock for they were listening to the words and the words were warm and they were well meant.

And the people were comforted and they knew that if they kept listening they could feel virtuous and they would not need to do anything because the one with the warm words and fine feelings had spoken and they believed that the words could turn back the tide and they felt safe.