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OPINION: The united and unprecedented stand taken last week at Parliament was historic.
Read: Primary sector’s commitment to reducing emissions.
It brought together farmers, growers and other related sectors seeking to solve the vexing problem of agricultural emissions.
Eleven different groups, including Maori, took a united position on climate change, even daring to challenge one recommendation by the Independent Climate Change Commission (ICCC) set up to advise the Government.
Faced with a hijacking of the climate change issue by greenies and others, the agri sector got its act together in style.
They produced the document He Waka Eke Noa – Our Future in Our Hands, which fairly summarised their intent. They stated their collective commitment to working with the Government in good faith to deal with climate change.
They acknowledged the urgent need for change and pointed out that farmers, horticulturalists, processors and others have not been idle but have spent huge sums of money and much time on searching for solutions to the many challenges.
Given that the sector intends to be part of the solution, we hope the Government will sensibly listen to its suggestions.
They have quite rightly given a thumbs-down to the ICCC rather bluntly recommending an arbitrary levy on farmers at processor level – meat and dairy companies and the like. This would be too disconnected from farmers to effect the behaviour changes needed on farm to deal with emissions, they said.
The groups instead favour developing closer relationships with farmers so as to bring them onboard as part of the solution.
Climate change is complicated, and for farmers to buy into the solution they need coaching and helping on a personal level. The Government may be wise to accept this offer if they are serious about working with farmers.
A new nationwide survey shows New Zealanders expect farmers and food producers to play a leading role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but also gave them higher marks than most industries for their current efforts.
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Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
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