Tone deaf?
OPINION: Your old mate can't believe the absolute brass neck of the directors at Beef + Lamb NZ who are asking levypayers for a hefty increase in directors fees at the time of record low red meat prices.
The Government says it will take time to carefully consider the report from the He Waka Eke Noa partnership.
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor says advice from the Climate Change Commission will be sought on the proposals.
He thanked HWEN partners for their work, which has been under way since the Government, farming leaders and Māori agreed to a world-first partnership to reduce primary sector emissions in 2019.
"The sector and the wider public will have the opportunity to provide their view before Cabinet makes final decisions towards the end of the year on how to effectively price emissions," O'Connor says.
"We are all committed to pricing agricultural emissions to ensure their reduction from 2025, and reiterate that commitment today.
"It's really important that we get this right. Customers around the world are demanding higher levels of sustainability in the products they buy, so there is the potential for real competitive advantage here if we can get this right and continue moving to sustainable farming systems that are ready to respond to a warming world."
O'Connor says the Government committed almost $380 million over four years in Budget 2022 to accelerate efforts to lower agricultural emissions.
"It sees us establishing the new Centre for Climate Action on Agricultural Emissions as a joint venture with business to accelerate the product development of tools for farmers to reduce emissions.
"We're also developing specialised climate-focused extension services and expanding our support for Māori agribusinesses," O'Connor says.
Climate Change Minister James Shaw says the agriculture sector has a crucial role to play in meeting the recently set emissions budgets.
"We need to urgently cut emissions across all sectors of the economy - and that includes agriculture."
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.
Listed Canterbury milk processor Synlait’s shares have been placed in a trading halt.
OPINION: European farmers are going to extreme lengths to have their message heard.
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