CO₂ hot water system slashes dairy shed energy costs
A Taupo company says it's the first to bring CO₂-powered water heating technology to New Zealand dairy sheds, helping farmers cut energy costs by up to 85%.
NEW ZEALAND'S largest rural lender has launched a lending package for farmers wanting to invest in improving the environmental sustainability and productivity of their farms.
ANZ Bank's Farm Development Package includes a low-interest loan of 4% per annum for fulfilling compliance on effluent management, water quality management and water and energy conservation.
"Fast-growing markets in Asia are producing enormous opportunities for New Zealand farmers. But increasing agriculture production is creating complex challenges on how to manage environmental stresses – in particular the impact of dairy farming on water quality," says Graham Turley, ANZ managing director commercial and agri.
"If our farming sector is to realise the opportunities available, it must mitigate the effects of growth on the environment. An increasing number of dairy farmers are adopting new technologies to increase production and reduce their environmental footprint.
"This package makes it easier for farmers to comply with environmental regulation, and achieve sustainable production."
The package also contains a loan for farmers considering developments that will improve their productivity such as farm conversion, feed systems, milking technology, stock housing and irrigation.
The third part of the package is a UDC Equipment Lending Facility that uses existing farm assets as security to fund farm development initiatives.
The recent ANZ privately Owned Business Barometer found that 68% of farmers were looking to increase farm production to improve their financial position, and 23% were looking to invest in farm infrastructure.
"We're seeing more farmers wanting to invest in improving water security, environmental compliance, infrastructure, and land use change such as cow housing and standoff facilities," Turley said.
"The Farm Development Package caters for any agricultural or horticultural development seeking to invest in systems to increase productivity and profit as well as reduce the impact on the environment."
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
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.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.