Time for agricultural industry to lead the way – Anna Campbell:
It seems a long time ago that National MP Shane Ardern rode ”Myrtle”, his elderly tractor, up the parliamentary steps in protest at the proposed ”fart tax”.
That was back in 2003 and there have been many iterations of carbon reduction schemes since then with agriculture sliding along relatively unscathed. One did feel that it was only a matter of time before the grace period was over. Climate change has not gone away, a raft of regulations are on their way, but they do look a little different from what we were expecting.
The biggest difference to the current scheme versus previous schemes is the split gas regime, where methane is treated separately due to its shorter lifespan in the atmosphere – the target is a 10% reduction in biological methane emissions by 2030, with a provisional reduction of 24% to 47% by 2050. . .
‘Major reset’ for honey industry – Yvone O’Hara:
There has been strong growth by the honey industry during the past few years but with demand and prices dropping by as much as 50% compared to the previous season, there will be belt tightening and rationalisation, Apiculture New Zealand chief executive Karin Kos says.
She said the strong growth and good returns in the past few years had attracted a lot of new entrants to the industry.
However, the domestic and international markets have been ”a bit sluggish”. . .
Katie Milne responds to Shane Jones’ claim that farmers are ‘moaners‘:
Farmers have come under fire this week from MP Shane Jones, who says they need to stop “bitching and moaning”. Jones launched into farmers while talking to host Jamie Mackay on The Country yesterday. But what do farmers say in response? Mackay catches up with one of Jones’ targets, Federated Farmers president Katie Milne, who says the urban/rural divide has damaged people’s opinions of farmers.
“I don’t like the term ‘whingeing’,” says Katie Milne. “But we do like to highlight and try to talk to the issues that do affect us that people do have control over.”
The Federated Farmers president is responding to claims from the Minister of Forestry and Regional Economic Development Shane Jones that farmers are moaners. . .
Facts ‘overrated’ in farming’s fight for social licence – Glen Herud:
There’s the “thing” and there’s the perception of the “thing” and they are not the same thing.
You could say, there’s the “dairy farm” and there’s the perception of the “dairy farm” and they are not the same thing.
You can change the thing but that doesn’t necessarily change the perception of the thing. . .
FarmStrong: Shearer’s look after top paddock :
An initiative in the wool harvesting industry is changing traditional attitudes to injury prevention and wellbeing and it’s not just shearing crews who are benefiting.
Times are changing in the woolshed, Shearing Contractors’ Association spokesman Mark Barrowcliffe says.
He’s been running his King Country business for nearly 20 years, employing up to 50 staff at peak season. . .
Busby takes the feijoa for New Zealand’s oldest sheep – Tracey Neal:
Busby’s genetic roots might lie in the blustery North Sea island of Texel, but the owners of what was possibly New Zealand’s oldest sheep said he has thrived on a more gentle lifestyle.
The Texel-Romney cross wether is estimated by Lynley and Barry Bird to be 24-years-old, measured against the ages of their now-adult children who rescued him as a lamb. . .
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