The Primary Industries NZ Summit has earned a reputation for serving up a varied and thought-provoking programme of presentations and debates on food and fibre issues – the 2023 event is set to uphold that benchmark. Tākina, Wellington’s brand new convention and exhibition centre, plays host to the fifth annual summit on July 3 and […]
Climate Change
Highly organic soils – it’s what we do
By Dr Jacqueline Rowarth Regeneration is a word that captures the imagination. It is the natural process of renewal, restoration and growth – making things better. It is also the supernatural process that the Time Lords use for transforming themselves into a new being rather than die. Dr Who has experienced many regenerations; he is […]
Feds advocating for practical and fair COP28 outcomes
by Macaulay Jones, Independent Consultant, Agriculture, Sustainability & Trade This November the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the 28th United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference, known as COP28. All 193 UN member countries will meet to negotiate rules that drive action on climate change and limit global warming to the 1.5 degrees goal outlined […]
Regenerative agriculture – opening up the wallet
By Delwyn Dickey for the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge Regenerative agriculture has potential as a selling point for our export markets, but how do the numbers stack up for farmers? Pastoral farming is one of the fundamentals of regenerative farming practices. As our farming systems are pasture-based rather than using feedlots, as […]
NZ an international outlier by allowing 100 percent of emissions offsetting through forestry
New research has found New Zealand’s policy of allowing fossil fuel emitters to offset all their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by planting trees is at odds with the rest of the world, and it’s having a damaging impact on the agricultural sector and rural communities. Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) commissioned the International emissions […]
Composting shelters show their worth
From Our Land & Water’s National Science Challenge, and written by Delwyn Dickey Composting shelters offer shade from the summer sun, and keep cows and staff warm and dry in winter while reducing pasture damage and nitrate leaching. But how do they fit in with our pasture-based grazing systems? Animal welfare concerns during winter were […]
Best ‘bang for buck’ global emissions actions don’t lie with agriculture
By Andrew Hoggard, President Federated Farmers of NZ They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I read past many thousands of words in the latest IPCC synthesis report for policy makers before I came across a diagram on page 28, which did prove that old adage very true. I had to get through […]
Feds hold strong on emissions bottom lines
By Andrew Hoggard, President Federated Farmers of NZ It’s the business end of the season when it comes to emissions pricing discussions, with the Government due to announce a final decision in the next few weeks. This is a big moment for our sector and farmers are understandably wanting to know what Federated Farmers’ position […]
Todd McClay: looking for solutions, not more red tape
If the cost of a regulation is greater than the perceived benefit or outcome “it’s just red tape. National will cut that,” Todd McClay says. The MP for Rotorua was four weeks ago appointed National’s third agricultural spokesperson this triennium after the Barbara Kuriger controversy and Todd Muller’s decision to leave Parliament in October. McClay […]
New approaches to forestry management needed in Tairawhiti, Te Wairoa
By Hamish Barwick Improvements in forestry earthworks, roading landing and slash management are vital to avoid another adverse weather event like Cyclone Gabrielle heavily impacting on the Gisborne and Wairoa regions, says Federated Farmers. While forestry slash is not the only issue that needs to be addressed, it was clearly a significant factor in the […]