Political colours
OPINION: Your old mate welcomes the proposed changes to local government but notes it drew responses that ranged from the reasonable…
Like a martial art, sustainable and smart pest and disease management relies on understanding opponents’ strengths and weaknesses and using these against them, says Charles Merfield of Lincoln University’s biological husbandry unit (BHU).
Do you know how docks, thistles and dandelions differ in their ability to regrow? Or from how deep particular weed species germinate? Or what are the alternative hosts for the pests that try to demolish your crops?
The existence of Landcorp’s Ahuriri Station near Napier, one the country’s newest farms, came at a huge cost to the local community.
Budget 2015 is, I believe, one of the best for the primary sector since National has been in government.
Labour is now also putting the putting the boot into the NZ dairy sector. Its trade spokesman David Parker has accused Trade Minister Tim Groser of insulting Canadian diplomats by comparing that country’s dairy industry to the Soviet Union.
Your old mate reckons the border security team at MPI will have a new take on the old saying “Is that a lump in your pants or are you just pleased to see me?” after detecting a Polish gardener trying to smuggle plants in his underpants through Auckland airport recently.
The Hound knows that the Greens hate farming about as much as they hate cars.
Your old mate notes that for the last few weeks the Australian-owned, controlled and managed so-called NZ Farmer rag has been touting the fact on its front page that it was a finalist in the ‘community newspaper’ category at the recent Canon media awards.
Workplace Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse recently described the existing workplace safety legislation a ‘bugger’s muddle’.
Global beef consumption will not increase markedly in the next few years, but on the plus side it has been reaching record prices, as have all meats, says Aidan Connolly, chief innovation officer for animal nutrition company Alltech.
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A Californian mega dairy farmer who has opened his own plant in the nearby town to process and sell fresh, glass-bottled milk and make ice cream says he can add $100 to the basic milk price with his premium products.
The wider agribusiness sector has nailed its share of loot in the recent Budget – with extra money for R&D, training, irrigation, animal welfare and biosecurity.
Starting with pony clubs when he was just eight years old and a lifelong association with horses will culminate in 24-year-old Ben Wilks starting in the Mongol Derby in early August.
News that China is to allow Brazilian beef back into its markets shouldn’t derail the bull run the New Zealand industry is enjoying, says leading exporter Silver Fern Farms.
The Hound
True agenda
OPINION: A press release from the oxygen thieves running the hot air symposium on climate change, known as COP30, grabbed your…
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