Warnings fees on utes could rise, after clean-car policy creates million-dollar funding gap -Thomas Coughlan:
Transport Minister Michael Wood will shortly review the cost of the fees and rebates in the Government’s “feebate” scheme after the runaway success of the policy has meant it is paying out millions more in rebates each month than it collects in fees.
Wood said he was reviewing the rates of fees and discounts “in the coming months” to make sure the scheme still worked, but added that no change would take effect until April 1 next year.
The clean-car discount is meant to encourage people to buy cleaner cars by offering a discount of up to $8625 from the price of an electric or low-emissions car. These discounts are paid for by fees of up to $5175 on dirtier cars. The Government said it would regularly review fee and discount levels when it announced the scheme.
The scheme is meant to be self-funding, but it could become a victim of its own success, paying out millions more in fees each month than it collects in revenue. This could mean fees going up or discounts going down when the scheme is reviewed in just a year’s time. . .
Mt Somers farmer named B+LNZ deputy chairwoman – Tim Cronshaw:
Mt Somers farmer and businesswoman Kate Acland has been appointed deputy chairwoman of Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ).
The deputy role was re-established because of an increasing workload from so much change for farmers and it was expected to take some of the pressure off chairman Andrew Morrison.
Mr Morrison, who plans to seek re-election next year, said he was looking forward to Mrs Acland’s assistance.
“Kate has an excellent mix of rural expertise and business acumen to support us in achieving our strategic goals and objectives of helping farmers run thriving and profitable farm businesses.” . . .
Sustainability ‘prominent’ at event – Shawn McAvinue:
Dunedin livestock scientist Jason Archer is making the most of the border reopening and has been discovering a new world shifting its focus to sustainability.
Dr Archer returned last month from a 12-day fact-finding trip to Canada and the United States.
The trip included a stop at the 54th Annual Beef Improvement Federation research symposium and convention in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
“Cowboy country.”
The conference focused on beef genetics of the leading breeding societies in the United States. . .
Applications open for prestigious 2023 Zanda McDonald Award programme:
Young agricultural professionals with passion and drive are being encouraged to apply for the most coveted prize of its kind in Australasian agribusiness.
The Zanda McDonald Award, open to Australian and New Zealand residents aged 21-35 working in agribusiness, provides unrivalled development opportunities for personal and professional growth.
One winner will be chosen from each country, with the successful recipients receiving a fully personalised education, training and mentoring package across both Australia and New Zealand, spending time with leaders across all areas of the primary sector.
“This award recognises and celebrates determined and passionate young Kiwis and Aussies with strong leadership skills, and the programme provides winners with opportunities that money simply cannot buy,” says Zanda McDonald Award chair Richard Rains. . .
Alliance announces new associate director :
Alliance Group has announced the appointment of Ross Bowmar as the 2022/23 associate director.
Raised in Southland where his parents still farm, Bowmar and his young family now own and operate Redcliffs Station, a high-country sheep and beef station in the Rakaia Gorge in Canterbury.
Running close to 8,500 stock units, Bowmar is balancing economic growth with environmental and social enhancement. Bowmar completed a Masters in Agriculture Economics at Michigan State University in the United States before spending 10 years with Archer Daniels Midland (ADM). . . .
https://twitter.com/stackymcc/status/1551802384052998144
Funds for GHG-fighting fungi – Business Desk:
The Government is spending $7.3 million over seven years in a programme intended to reduce agricultural greenhouse gases and nitrate leaching, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said.
The N-Vision NZ programme comprises:
N-Retain – a new nitrification inhibitor technology that will look at new ways to block the biological processes in the soil that lead to nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching.
N-Test – a new soil test to inform nitrogen fertiliser decisions on pastoral farms, which will help capitalise on the nitrogen already in soil organic matter. . .
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