Losing our farms – Richard Harman :
The Government’s announcement yesterday on aiming for 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2030 came at the same as a warning that we are still one of the only countries that allows industry to offset their greenhouse gas emissions rather than reduce them.
The warning is in a report showing that substantial areas of productive sheep and beef farms are continuing to be sold for forestry so that the new owners can claim the carbon credits.
The report, commissioned by Beef+LambNZ, found that in 2021 and 2022, 99,000 hectares of farmland were sold for conversion to forestry, with over 40 per cent of the sales going to overseas buyers.
Beef and Lamb NZ C EO Sam McIvor says that figure is likely to increase because there is a backlog of applications for sales approval currently sitting with the Overseas Investment Office. . .
Long-time farming families object to council’s handling of Māori designations – Chris Tobin :
Families who have farmed in South Canterbury for generations are objecting to the Timaru District Council’s handling of proposed Sites and Areas of Significance to Māori (SASM) and fear restrictions will follow.
Federated Farmers have called the council’s approach “heavy-handed”.
In October, the Timaru District Council sent letters to the first of 4000 property owners in the district who would be impacted by the new regulations stating the land fitted into five differing categories: Wāhi Tūpuna (broad geographical areas/cultural landscapes), wāhi taoka (land-based places), wāhi tapu (sacred land-based sites), wai taoka (waterways based places) and wai tapu (sacred sites/areas water based).
The council said it had worked with the local rūnanga, Arowhenua, to identify SASM while the rūnanga used information from historic maps, oral histories and document archives to identify areas. . .
Lake Ōhau Lodge owners ready to pass ‘the baton’ – Hamish MacLean :
The family-owned Lake Ōhau Lodge and Ōhau Snow Fields are for sale.
After 33 years running the around-the-clock tourism business, husband-and-wife owners Mike and Louise Neilson said they were calling time.
Mr Neilson, who recently turned 71, said the business had been “our life” but the couple were now planning their retirement.
“We brought up three children, we’ve now got five grandchildren, and we’re still going 24/7 with it. We just can’t keep doing that. . .
Uni launches agriculture association – Shawn McAvinue :
Anyone seeking a career in the agriculture sector should consider studying at the University of Otago, a group of students launching an association to explore the sector says.
Affiliation of the Food and Agricultural Students Association in Dunedin was approved recently.
Association president Supriya Sally said the association had about 80 members, mostly students studying food science or agriculture.
All students were invited to join the group, Miss Sally said. . .
New Zealand’s reputation for premium food and beverage has grown in key markets, but the F&B export sector still needs to build awareness to counter ‘buy local’ trends and competition from other sources of high-end food products, according to NZTE research.
Wine, red meat and dairy led the charge as recognised premium products from New Zealand, according to research conducted by Kantar in April 2023 across Australia, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Wine topped the recognition rankings – associated with New Zealand by 54 percent of the surveyed consumers, and particularly those in China, Australia, and the UK.
The findings are drawn from the fourth wave of research conducted to support NZTE’s ongoing Made with Care campaign, which aims to drive awareness and preference for New Zealand as a source of premium food and beverage products. . .
Rob Hewett and Will Clarke elected to Farmlands board :
Farmlands shareholders have re-elected their experienced Board Chair and elected a new Director with a strong background and connection to the co-op. Both Directors are committed to being a voice for Farmlands’ core farmer and grower customers and building on the 60-plus year history of the co-op.
Rob Hewett was standing for re-election after retiring by rotation and is joined on the Board by newcomer Will Clarke, who was previously a Farmlands Board Observer in 2020 and 2021.
Rob received the highest number of votes and has been re-elected for a 3-year term, while Will, with the second highest number of votes, will join the Board for a first 3-year term.
Rob and Will were elected from a strong candidate pool of seven candidates for the two available Board positions. The Farmlands Board noted the overall calibre and commitment to the agri-sector from the candidates, resulting in a tightly contested election. . .
Homepaddock 