Twelve community projects across New Zealand will receive a share of $2 million to carry out wilding pine control, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor announced as part of Biosecurity Week. “Wilding pines are a serious problem that threaten many of the unique landscapes that New Zealanders value. Community groups and trusts on the ground can play […]
Biodiversity
Research key to improving water quality in Ararira catchment
Know your catchment before you take action to improve water quality. That’s one of the key findings from a two-year research collaboration between Living Water (a partnership of Fonterra and the Department of Conservation) and the University of Canterbury’s Carex group (Canterbury Waterway Rehabilitation Experiment). They were working together on the Ararira / LII River […]
Sustainability vision – it’s not just about protecting the environment
The word ‘sustainability’ seems to crop up in just about every second article on agriculture, usually referencing the environment. But as Federated Farmers Vice-President Karen Williams said at the Waikato Federated Farmer’s AGM, true sustainability must also encompass social and economic wellbeing. Karen enthusiastically described a future Ag-sector where happy farmers get out of bed […]
SNA laws bad for everyone
By Don Carson, Forest Owners Association Communications Manager OPINION: The events of 15 and 16 July could not have been more different. On Friday 15th rural communities throughout New Zealand stood up in protest against the regulatory burdens the government is imposing. The day after the Friday protest, the heavens opened up over central New […]
Where we’re at with Significant Natural Areas
SNAs and the pending National Policy Statement – Indigenous Biodiversity are hot talking points in agricultural circles. We thought we’d outline the background. The issue of areas of farmland being identified as SNAs (Significant Naturals Areas) is not new. Many farmers are well aware of this being a significant challenge in many districts for close […]
Clearing the air on concerns with Significant Natural Areas
by Chris Allen, Federated Farmers environment spokesperson In a TV One news item last Friday night about Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) a reporter said that Minister James Shaw had said Federated Farmers ‘was in support’. The impression was that we fully supported last year’s draft National Policy Statement – Indigenous Biodiversity in its entirety – […]
Indigenous fungus may help to control wilding pines
An indigenous New Zealand fungus may help to control wilding pines – one of the country’s most ecologically damaging weed species – a student’s research project shows. Wilding pine control costs New Zealand millions of dollars a year, and involves the costly and time-consuming methods of cutting down the trees and spraying herbicide from the […]
Sharing best practice through virtual farm tours
The role farmers play in producing food and in food security – especially when supply chains are disrupted by events such as the Covid-19 pandemic – is not well understood, Leeston arable farmer David Birkett says. “Previous generations understood it but it’s something that has been lost. I think that’s probably one of the bigger […]
Record numbers of NZ beekeepers to celebrate World Bee Day
New Zealand’s sizeable and growing population of bee lovers will honour the humble, hardworking bee this World Bee Day on Thursday 20 May. World Bee Day was established by the United Nations to raise awareness of the critical importance of bees, and other pollinators to the health of our planet and its people. “The world […]
Taihape farmers mount serious assault on Old Man’s Beard
The invasive climber Old Man’s Beard has been given more than just a trim in the Pukeokahu district near Taihape. With nine local farmers at the forefront, serious infestations of the pest plant are now in full retreat. Former Federated Farmers Manawatu-Rangitikei executive member Fraser Gordon says it was about six years ago that the […]