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.
DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel says he believes that dairy farmers are still under a lot of pressure, having come through Covid and a period where there have been significant staff shortages.
He says there are still a lot of farms having to run with insufficient staff and this adds to the stress.
"When people run the businesses themselves, if they are short on staff, they just work harder and farmers are no different. Families on these farms work harder and this is unsustainable in the long run, especially with a raft of new regulations coming up.
"If you're a family-run operation and you are flat out just running the farm, and you know this stuff is coming at you and you don't quite understand what it is and whether it's going to undermine the viability of your farm, that is very worrying," he says.
Van der Poel says, despite the prospect of good commodity prices, the uncertainty of legislation, especially around the pricing of agricultural emission is putting pressure on people.
"That's why it's so important that all the legislation is fair and equitable and people can understand it and realise that it makes sense," he says.
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.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
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.