Science fiction
OPINION: Last week's announcement of Prime Minister’s new Science and Technology Advisory Council hasn’t gone down too well in the science community.
There may soon be another tool available to cut your climate footprint - select less-gassy bulls out of a catalogue.
The quantity of the greenhouse gas methane breathed out by young bulls is currently being measured by machines. It's hoped the least-gassy males will sire less-gassy daughters, which could significantly reduce farming emissions.
Experts estimate that by breeding lower-methane bulls and cows with each other throughout a 10-year programme, they could reduce an individual cow's methane emissions by up to 10%.
Breeding companies LIC and CRV Ambreed have paired up to achieve the goal. From this month, the two groups will monitor the methane emitted by 300 bulls, to be kept in special testing pens with seven to nine others. To measure methane, bulls need to regularly stick their heads into a monitoring machine.
Solutions won't come as quickly as James Shaw might like, but they are being worked on.
The Government says it is sharpening its focus and support for the food and fibre industry in Budget 2025.
A European Union regulation ensuring that the products its citizens consume do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation worldwide threatens $200m of New Zealand beef and leather exports.
A long-acting, controlled- release capsule designed to protect ewes from internal parasites during the lambing period is back on the market following a comprehensive reassessment.
Healthcare appears to be the big winner in this year's budget as agriculture and environment miss out.
OPINION: Foreign policy is a real strength of Winston Peter and this is recognised by Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) officials who, so the story goes, wanted him in his present role because of his experience in that field.
DairyNZ subsidiary New Zealand Animal Evaluation (NZAEL) will update the genetic base used to calculate Breeding Worth (BW) next month.