Department of Conservation – media release New research to test the use of repellents to help keep kea safe during predator control operations is underway near Arthur’s Pass in Canterbury. The Department of Conservation and OSPRI (TBfree) are funding the research, which will test the effectiveness of two bird repellents (d-pulegone and anthraquinone) in reducing […]
environment
Chemical recovery events planned for Canterbury farmers and growers
Media release – Agrecovery Canterbury farmers and growers are being urged to make use of a subsidised programme to return their unwanted or expired agrichemicals. Throughout June, Agrecovery will be running several chemical recovery events in the Canterbury region. With free or subsidised recovery and disposal of more than 3000 products, the programme provides the […]
Ravensdown secures co-funding to eliminate coal from aglime process
Ravensdown media release – 26 April 2022 Ravensdown announces today that it has achieved government co-funding to accompany the co-operative’s investment to install a biomass combustor at its Dipton lime quarry. Locally supplied wood fuel will replace coal in the lime-drying process – an important part of preparing the naturally occurring soil conditioner for use […]
Updated guide, workshops help with wetlands identification
Regional councils now have another tool in their kit to help identify natural wetlands, thanks to research shared by NIWA’s freshwater ecology specialist Paul Champion. Mr Champion led two, two-day workshops in March, showing regional council staff how to identify characteristics of rushes, sedges and grasses, the dominant vegetation of wetlands in New Zealand. Wetland […]
Andrew wraps the week…
Andrew Hoggard with an update on He Waka Eke Noa. “We’ve been pushing for changes that we want to see, that we think make the farm level a better option than what it currently is. But it’s still too early to tell whether we’re going to get this thing in a good enough place that […]
New Zealand is world-leading in agrichemical management
As a leader of sustainable food production, the agrichemical industry will continue to collaborate with the government to safely manage agrichemicals in the environment, following a report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton, released today. Agcarm chief executive Mark Ross says, “we’re confident that the measures for managing and using agrichemicals and […]
Climate change and food security: We should act on both because it’s the right thing to do
Federated Farmers are currently working with a wide range of stakeholders on how to best develop an appropriate pricing mechanism that achieves a wide range of outcomes. This partnership is called He Waka Eke Noa, or The Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership and the outcomes sought include reducing emissions, maintaining food production, and protecting the […]
NZ’s “world leader” status will disappear without access to technology
Federated Farmers is deeply frustrated to see the European Union has approved the methane-reduction feed tool Bovaer® for use by its farmers. “Despite consulting on the issue two years ago, there is still no sign of our government stepping up and getting on with approving this technology for us to use as well, and therefore […]
Emissions pricing could put billion dollar hit on earnings, but no hit on global emissions
By Andrew Hoggard, Federated Farmers President and climate change spokesperson In discussions on He Waka Eke Noa proposals with farmers I’m often asked “how does this all square with the Paris Agreement, and the multiple mentions the text of the Agreement makes on needing to make emissions reductions but not at the cost of food […]
Discussion paper outlines carbon farming threat to sheep and beef sector
Urgent national policy changes are required to ensure the increase in carbon farming to meet New Zealand’s climate change obligations does not come at the expense of the country’s rural communities, according to a discussion paper. The Green Paper by former Hastings Mayor and MP Lawrence Yule, Managing Forestry Land-Use Under the Influence of Carbon, […]