Dry weather classification expands to North Island
The dry weather in some parts of the North Island has received medium-scale adverse event classification from the Government.
A Lincoln University PhD student is putting New Zealand’s vaunted paddock-based dairy industry to the test.
Hafiz M. Abrar Ilyas is comparing the difference between Pastoral Dairy Farms (PDFs) and Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) dairy systems in terms of energy consumption and environmental emissions.
He says it is something that has not been done before but needs to be looked at if New Zealand is to take its environmental responsibilities seriously.
“Pastoral Dairy Farming Systems are common in New Zealand while the CAFO system is relatively new, but increasing in numbers especially in the South Island,” he says.
“The core advantage of using CAFOs system is that they have minimum soil disturbance, have more control over climate events and research has shown they can achieve higher milk production per cow.”
However, are they more energy efficient and able to reduce emissions?
A direct comparison will let the numbers speak for themselves.
“The intensification of New Zealand’s dairy industry, including its vertical and horizontal expansion could cause serious environmental issues,” Ilyas says.
New Zealand’s agriculture sector produces 46% of its greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 2014 Ministry for the Environment report.
Dedicated efforts and studies are required to look into the environmental impact the dairy industry is having on New Zealand, he says.
“The findings of this study can be useful for making environmental policy regarding NZ dairy production systems as well as help farmers in selecting appropriate farm management practices for the sustainability of the New Zealand dairy industry."
A qualified engineer, he is being supervised by Dr Majeed Safa and Professor Alison Bailey and will be surveying farmers using both systems, and hopes to have results in June, 2017.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
There have been leadership changes at the Hamilton-based Dairy Goat Co-operative, which has been struggling financially in recent years.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
OPINION: In recent years farmers have been crying foul of unworkable and expensive regulations.
Another 16 commercial beef farmers have been selected to take part in the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme designed to help drive the uptake of genetics in the industry.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Kiwi exporters will be $100 million better off today as the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comes into force.