Tuesday, 25 September 2018 11:45

Build bigger barns

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Here's a pitch that will have the greenies seeing red. Intensive, high-yielding farming may be the best way to meet rising demand for food while conserving biodiversity, a new study has found.

Organic farming has long been considered more environmentally friendly than intensive, conventional farming, but a study led by scientists at the University of Cambridge, UK suggests perhaps not, provided more natural habitat can be “spared the plough”. Nature Sustainability reported that the study had researchers working with 17 organisations in the UK and worldwide, including people in Poland, Brazil, Australia, Mexico and Colombia. They analysed data from 100s of studies of four large food sectors – Asian paddy rice, European wheat, Latin American beef and European dairy.

Featured

Dr Mike Joy says sorry, escapes censure

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.

People-first philosophy pays off

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.

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

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.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

National

Machinery & Products

JDLink Boost for NZ farms

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New generation Defender HD11

The all-new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 looks likely to raise the bar in the highly competitive side-by-side category.

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Milking It

Buttery prize

OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having…

Gene Bill rumours

OPINION: The Gene Technology Bill has divided the farming community with strong arguments on both the pros and cons of…

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