Bathetic – producing an unintentional effect of anticlimax; characterised by triteness or sentimentalism; overly sentimental, gushy, and insincere; containing of displaying bathos.
Beautifying the blogosphere
17/01/2023
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nature | Tagged: Paul WIlson | 
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Posted by homepaddock
Rural round-up
17/01/2023Growers warn of price spike after Cyclone Hale – Kate Green :
The price of fruit and vegetables could be set to spike because of the damage done to crops by Cyclone Hale.
Severe weather has been affecting Northland, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa since Monday, as the cyclone reached New Zealand.
Farmers were advised by Civil Defence to move stock to shelter and higher ground, but crop farmers had fewer options.
Federated Farmers president for Gisborne and Wairoa, Toby Williams, said heavy rain could damage fruit trees, grapes and maize. . .
Smart eco-solution to reduce phosphorus in waterways – Karen Kawawada:
Wastewater, whether urban or from farms, may not look or smell good. But to University of Auckland researchers, it can be the source of agricultural gold.
Engineers at the University of Auckland are designing way to clean phosphorus from waste water and turn it into fertiliser – a process with both environmental and financial benefits
Wastewater, whether urban or from farms, may not look or smell good. But to University of Auckland researchers, it can be the source of agricultural gold – well, a whitish-goldish mineral called struvite, anyway.
Phosphorus-rich struvite not only makes a great slow-release fertiliser, recovering it from wastewater helps clean up our waterways. . .
HWEN legislation ‘unlikely before poll’ – Neal Wallace:
Speculation is mounting that the government will run out of time to pass the He Waka Eke Noa legislation before this year’s general election.
But interested parties disagree on whether any delay on HWEN laws would simply be a timing issue or if it could allow changes to the legislation.
Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard said the organisation’s own analysis and well-placed sources have told him the government will not have time to pass the empowering legislation before the election.
He said legislation still has to be drafted and with Parliament not resuming sitting until February 14, it will be March or April before any documents are ready to be put before Parliament. . .
Rush of farm applications beat deadline – David Williams :
Conservation group fears a flood of applications is “a rush to develop the high country”. David Williams reports
Farmers on Crown pastoral leases flooded authorities with development applications just days before tighter protections kicked in.
The leases cover about 1.2 million hectares, or 5 percent of the country, spanning the South Island’s high country. Lessees have grazing rights and other activities need approval from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, an independent officer employed by the Crown’s land manager, Land Information New Zealand.
LINZ confirms it received 218 applications in November – more than the previous six months combined. . .
Robots boost animal disease testing :
Could robotics be the secret to faster and improved animal disease testing?
It’s certainly a possibility, say Biosecurity New Zealand, who recently invested in a new antibody testing robot for the National Animal Health Laboratory.
The $580,000 high throughput diagnostic robot is the first of its kind in New Zealand and it is said will increase testing accuracy and consistency during future biosecurity responses.
“The Mycoplasma bovis outbreak gave us useful insights into how our laboratory could increase its capacity during a response. In particular, it highlighted the need for automation,” says Animal Health Laboratory manager Joseph O’Keefe. . .
Government to pay more to farmers who protect and enhance the environment :
Farmers will receive increased payments for protecting and enhancing nature and delivering sustainable food production under the Government’s Environmental Land Management schemes, Defra has announced today (Thursday 5 January 2023).
Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference, Farming Minister Mark Spencer announced more money for farmers and landowners through both the Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes, which will provide more support to the industry and drive uptake at a time of rising costs for farmers as a result of global challenges. He also confirmed an expanded range of actions under the schemes, which farmers could be paid for, would be published soon.
The changes mean farmers could receive up to a further £1,000 per year for taking nature-friendly action through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). This new Management Payment will be made for the first 50 hectares of farm (£20/ha) in an SFI agreement, to cover the administrative costs of participation and to attract smaller businesses – many of whom are tenant farmers – who are currently under-represented in the scheme. SFI is already paying farmers to improve soil and moorlands, and an expanded set of standards for 2023 will be published shortly.
In addition, farmers with a Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreement, of which there are now 30,000 across England, will see an average increase of 10% to their revenue payment rates – covering ongoing activity such as habitat management. Defra is also updating capital payment rates, which cover one-off projects such as hedgerow creation, with an average increase of 48%. . . .
Leave a Comment » | business, environment, Farming, food, rural | Tagged: Andrew Hoggard, Anieka Templer, Biosecurity NZ, Brian Leahy, Countryside Stewardship (CS), Crown pastoral leases, David Williams, DEFRA, Environmental Land Management schemes, Federated Farmers, He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN), Joseph O'Keefe, Karen Kawawada, Land Information NZ (LINZ), Mark Spencer, National Animal Health Laboratory, Neal Wallace, Oxford Farming Conference, Sustainable Farming Incentive, University of Auckland | Permalink
Posted by homepaddock
Free speech opposition ‘authoriarian’
17/01/2023
1 Comment | politics | Tagged: NZ Free Speech Union | Permalink
Posted by homepaddock
Rules only for rule-keepers
17/01/2023Are rules now only for the rule-keepers?
Shop owners confronted with ram raiders and other violent thieves who too often get away with no consequences must wonder.
The people who kept the rules that kept them from farewelling their dead as they wanted to during lockdowns while gang members were able to hold a tangi must wonder.
The people frightened by gang antics as they farewelled a former boss must wonder.
The staff, patients and visitors who were intimidated by gang members who blocked the Christchurch Hospital car park must wonder.
And people having to put up with anti-social behaviour from Kainga Ora tenants must wonder.
People like:
The residents living in fear after death threats from a tenant.
The family who say unruly neighbours forced their mother to use hotels.
The homeowner who complained to the Ombudsman over disruptive Kainga Ora neighbours.
The people who made more than 6000 complaints but not one unruly Kainga Ora tenant was evicted.
The homeowners who turned to motorhomes to avoid unruly Kainga Ora tenants,
Any good parent and any good teacher dealing with wayward children know that bad behaviour cannot be rewarded and the wayward must face consequences.
That knowledge will be one of the reason that rule keepers keep the rules.
Could it be that that too often there appears to be no consequences for rule breaking will be one of the reasons rule breakers are breaking the rules which don’t seem to apply to them?
Homepaddock 