Crazy
OPINION: Your canine crusader was truly impressed by the almost unanimous support given by politicians of all stripes in Parliament to the recent passing of legislation for the NZ/EU free trade deal.
The Green Party is citing a lack of farmer support as a reason to pull the on the Ruataniwha dam proposal.
Green Party water spokesperson Catherine Delahunty says a media report which talked to six farmers in the region shows that many of the farmers who stand to directly benefit from the dam’s water can’t make a sound business case for their farm with the increased cost.
“With few farmers willing to buy into the scheme it doesn’t make sense to build this environmentally destructive dam,” she says.
“The financial viability of the proposed dam relies on a mammoth leap of faith by all involved. With many farmers unconvinced of the financial benefits, it is wrong for the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council to plan to spend $80 million of ratepayer’s money.
“Milk prices are currently at $4.50/kgMS, and it makes the business case for the dam for local dairy farmers unsustainable. It is clear other producers also doubt the business case.
“We’ve opposed the Ruataniwha dam because of the detrimental effect more intensive farming will have on the catchment and the cost to the local community. These compromises don’t even come with a financial payoff, and the question has to be asked, ‘when will the regional council pull the plug?’ ”
Duncan MacLeod, commercial manager, Hawkes Bay Regional Investment Co, overseeing the project, told Dairy News it would be easy to find six farmers who did not see signing up as economical for their business and there were probably a lot more. But out of 414 farm properties contacted they needed about 140 to sign up to be viable and already the firm has 104 and many more strongly interested.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.