by Mark Ross, CEO Agcarm A nation of intense manufacturing activities combined with ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions has forced China to make drastic policy changes, resulting in strict measures to control energy supply. The global market will be caught in the crossfire of China’s measures to reduce its environmental footprint, with ambitious goals […]
Climate Change
High-tech investment extends drought forecasting for farmers and growers
The Government is investing in the development of a new forecasting tool that makes full use of innovative climate modelling to help farmers and growers prepare for dry conditions.. The new approach, which will cost $200,000 and is being jointly funded through the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and National Institute of Water and Atmospheric […]
Report confirms trend of carbon farms cannabalising pastoral farming
The latest analysis of farm sales data confirms the increasing price of carbon in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is driving the conversion of whole pastoral farms into forestry, particularly for carbon farming. Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is tracking data on farm sales for conversion into forestry as concerns continue to grow over […]
EcoPond demonstrating methane leadership on world stage
A New Zealand farmer-owned co-operative has showcased new methane mitigating technology that the dairy sector can start using from today to reduce emissions. Developed with Lincoln University, Ravensdown’s EcoPond system virtually eliminates the methane emitted from effluent ponds. The breakthrough discovery was to target methane with an additive normally used in the treatment of drinking […]
New report calls for urgent action on water storage
For New Zealand to transition towards land uses that have a greater economic value and smaller environmental footprint, as well as improved community resilience, we need to “act strategically – and to act now”. That’s according to Water Security and Availability in Aotearoa New Zealand, a report released by the Ministry for Primary Industries last […]
‘Massive’ hit on production if totally unnecessary nitrogen fertilizer ban came in
The basis of claims made by Greenpeace in support of its petition to ban use of all synthetic nitrogen fertilizer by 2024 have been called mischievous and misleading. For example, Greenpeace likes to hammer the point that New Zealand had the highest rate of increase in inorganic nitrogen fertilizer application out of OECD countries from […]
DSM receives positive EFSA opinion for methane-reducing feed additive Bovaer
Royal DSM, a global purpose-led science-based company, today announces that it has received a positive European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion for the use of its novel methane-reducing feed additive for ruminants, Bovaer®, in the European Union. The EFSA opinion confirms that the feed additive reduces enteric methane emissions from dairy cows and is safe for […]
Environmental gains as farmers reduce nitrogen loss
Dairy farmers in Canterbury’s Selwyn catchment are actively reducing their footprint, with data indicating many have reduced nitrogen loss by 30 percent. “Selwyn farmers have been working hard to achieve this milestone, taking steps on their farms to look after the environment,” says DairyNZ solutions and development lead advisor Virginia Serra. “Preliminary information shows 70 […]
Hey Glasgow, we are way ahead of you
Federated Farmers believes Climate Change Minister James Shaw should not hesitate to sign the global commitment to reduce methane by 30% by 2030, because New Zealand is already playing its part and working hard to become even better. The pledge, signed by more than 100 countries, is a commitment to work together to collectively reduce […]
A missed opportunity for real climate leadership
Federated Farmers believes the government could work much harder at getting other countries to embrace the latest climate science and to take a ‘split gas approach’ to emissions reduction. “This is what New Zealand should be talking about at COP26 this week,” Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard says. Yesterday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Climate […]