Rewarding farmers who embrace sustainability
Winners of DairyNZ’s Sustainability and Stewardship awards in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards have their eyes firmly fixed on progressing a positive future for New Zealand dairy.
Dairy farmers are seemingly more upbeat than they were three months ago but how long this positivity remains seems to depend on what the new Government does in the coming months.
So says Sarah Speight, DairyNZ's general manager of farm performance. She says the election of the new Government is playing a big part in the positive mood of farmers, along with the stabilisation of world dairy prices. But at the same time, she says farmers are particularly worried about the way that the new freshwater regulations are being implemented by regional councils around the country.
She says the limit setting process that is coming through from councils is a big worry - especially in places such as Southland, Canterbury, Manawatū, and Waikato.
"Some of these things are unworkable for farmers. There is a real hope that the incoming Government with its strong agricultural understanding around the caucus table will help with that and sort it out. But while farmers are positive they are wary about how much the new Government can get done in a reasonable timeframe," she says.
Speight says she's not sure that some of the councils know what the limit settings are going to mean for farmers and that is a worry. She says Northland, Southland and Otago are high on the radar for DairyNZ.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
OPINION: Canterbury milk processor Synlait is showing no sign of bouncing back from its financial doldrums.
OPINION: It seems every bugger in this country can get an award these days.