Strange bedfellows
OPINION: Two types of grifters have used the sale of Fonterra's consumer brands as a platform to push their own agendas - under the guise of 'caring about the country'.
OPINION: Greenpeace boss and former Green Party leader Russell Norman claims there are about ten million beef and dairy cattle in New Zealand and that each one produces the same faecal load as about 14 people.
So, that's equivalent to 140 million people. 'It's just too much faeces and urine for the rivers, lakes and groundwater to handle,' Rusty laments.
However, as one Twitter user pointed out: the daily output of E. coli from a human is estimated at more than 11,000 more than that of a cow.
Also, dairy cattle are fenced from waterways and most of their effluent goes back on pasture.
Something for Russell to ponder!
Three New Zealand agritech companies are set to join forces to help unlock the full potential of technology.
As the sector heads into the traditional peak period for injuries and fatalities, farmers are being urged to "take a moment".
Federated Farmers says almost 2000 farmers have signed a petition launched this month to urge the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is underway with approximately 33 million trays, or 118,800 tonnes, expected this year from orchards throughout France, Italy, Greece, Korea, and Japan.
Animal owners can help protect life-saving antibiotics from resistant bacteria by keeping their animals healthy, says the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
According to analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA), New Zealand red meat exports reached $827 million in October, a 27% increase on the same period last year.
OPINION: Dipping global dairy prices have already resulted in Irish farmers facing a price cut from processors.
OPINION: Are the heydays of soaring global demand for butter over?