By Simon Edwards Alison Stewart has no time for those who think New Zealand’s agri-sector has few environmental faults but also slams the current approach of trying to solve them with an across-the-board set of policies and procedures. “It frustrates the hell out of me,” the Foundation for Arable Research CEO told last month’s Primary […]
Environment
Regulations repeatedly failing ‘practicality’ test
By Andrew Hoggard, President Federated Farmers of NZ Federated Farmers has given repeated warnings to government that aspects of the 2020 ‘Essential Freshwater’ regulations are unworkable. Frustratingly, officials have treated us as lobbyists and viewed our concerns as simply coming from a point of self-interest rather than recognising we seek workable and lasting solutions. But […]
‘Astronomical’ savings from tests on exact fertiliser needs
Investing in a handheld nitrogen tester and using variable rate nitrogen fertiliser has enabled Cust farmer Roscoe Taggart to significantly reduce the amount of fertiliser he applies to his family’s 730-hectare arable and sheep operation. The result is cost savings and environmental benefits. Roscoe, a former arable chair for Federated Farmers North Canterbury, is participating […]
Using NZ native algae for nutrient pollution mitigation
By Lawrence Gullery of NIWA NIWA is working with Māori farming enterprises on a novel pollution mitigation technology to remove nutrients from agricultural runoff. Filamentous Algae Nutrient Scrubbers, or FANS, is a water management system used to treat agricultural drainage, animal effluent and human wastewater. The system is already in use in the US and […]
Drowning in water policy confusion
In recent years there has been substantial legislative change around water. Rules around wetlands, drinking water, stock exclusion and nutrient allocations have created uncertainty and stress for farmers and communities who rely on their supply for drinking, cleaning and growing. Rural communities are anxious and confused at the pace of all this change. Federated Farmers […]
New Zealand ‘test pad’ for irrigation wind turbines
By Hamish Barwick Cost effective wind turbines designed for irrigation are on the horizon from an Auckland based non-governmental organisation (NGO) in development called IMVANO. IMVANO principal designer Michael McNicholas said that by using a not-for-profit approach the NGO is determined to get the technology into the driest parts of the world using New Zealand […]
Climate Change National Adaptation Plan – What’s in it for farmers?
Hamish Barwick The Ministry for the Environment released a National Adaptation Plan earlier this month designed to prepare New Zealanders for climate change. It includes adaptation recommendations for farmers. The plan – Adapt and Thrive: Building a climate-resilient New Zealand – features an Integrated Farm Planning Programme. Led by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) […]
Government backflip on carbon farming baffling
By Federated Farmers President Andrew Hoggard and Beef + Lamb NZ Chair Andrew Morrison Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and Federated Farmers cannot understand why the Government is backflipping on making a decision on proposals to prevent exotic forests from registering in the permanent forest category of the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) by […]
Positive results of retaining grass in critical source areas for Sheep Wintering Project
Forty farmers attending a Beef and Lamb NZ farming for profit field day in Waitahuna got a close-up look at a research project aiming to benchmark contaminant losses from sheep on winter crops and assess the impacts of retaining critical source areas (CSAs) in the grass in winter crop catchments.The Sheep Wintering project is based […]
Water reform proposals ‘deeply flawed’
Bigger is not necessarily better – and probably won’t be in the case of the proposed new mega water services entities, Federated Farmers says. While there are problems with three waters delivery and infrastructure and change is necessary in some areas, the approach outlined in the Water Services Entities Bill is deeply flawed, Feds national […]