Foot-in-mouth
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left them wishing they had kept their mouth firmly closed.
OPINION: Just as Southland farmers were receiving praise from local authorities on their improved winter grazing practices, new photos surfaced of cows knee-deep in mud.
While there is debate about the authenticity of the latest photos, reportedly taken by environmental activist Geoff Reid, the truth remains that not all farmers are following winter grazing rules to the fullest.
Sadly, it is this small group of farmers who are trashing the reputation of hundreds of others doing the right thing.
Such farmers are only providing ammunition to activists roaming dairy paddocks with cameras and drones hoping to find distressed cows lying in mud and reigniting the debate on banning winter grazing practices.
Let's not let a few reckless farmers, and a group of equally reckless environmental lobbyists, take the gloss off the excellent work many farmers are doing.
Environment Southland reported that its first aerial compliance inspection for the month confirmed that farmers have prepared well for winter grazing.
The flight focused largely on the Mataura and upper Oreti catchments, and only three landowners were identified as potentially having some issues that need a closer look on-farm.
"These flights help to reinforce that what's being seen from the road isn't always reflective of a breach of rules or environmental damage," council chief executive Rob Phillips says.
"Farmers are working hard and understanding the situation and making a real effort to improve things. This sustained improvement is something that Southland, as a whole, can be proud of."
Otherwise, all it will take is for a camera, a drone or even a fixed-wing aircraft, to take some shots of your farm and hand them over to dairy-hating, anti-farming environmentalists who to continue their farcical campaign against the industry.
The Government has deferred regulations to improve waterways and animal welfare until 2022. In return, farmers agreed to make immediate improvements as a compromise for the delay.
The new photos show not all farmers are putting their shoulders to the wheel. Let's not take the foot off the pedal when it comes to improving winter grazing practices.
Don't give these activists any chance of another photo of a cow lying in mud!
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.
DairyNZ says its plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical, science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.