Crazy
OPINION: Your canine crusader was truly impressed by the almost unanimous support given by politicians of all stripes in Parliament to the recent passing of legislation for the NZ/EU free trade deal.
National’s new ag spokesperson David Bennett has criticised Ag Minister Damien O’Connor around updated Essential Freshwater targets.
Bennet claims O’Connor has provided no reassurance to farmers around updated Essential Freshwater targets.
“While appearing in front of the Primary Production Select Committee the Minister confirmed that he had neither advocated for a reduction of the toxicity threshold from 95% to 90% nor for a longer time frame for these reforms to be achieved than the current one generation target.
“The Minister asserted that the 95% toxicity target, which is equivalent to a DIN of approximately 2.4, was ‘achievable’ on-farm.
“With 6,600ha of land use change predicted to achieve some of the new Essential Freshwater reforms, the Minister gave no reassurance to farmers in catchments whose business will be at-risk from these high thresholds.
Bennett says O’Connor acknowledged that land use change was inevitable in some areas and that at-risk areas, such as the Selwyn district, have the option to move to arable or forestry farming.
“He also acknowledged the lower value of farmland for those at-risk users and confirmed that the Government would not consider compensating affected farmers for that loss of value.
“He needs to start advocating for farmers around the Cabinet table instead of advocating for the Government to farmers.”
OPINION: In recent years farmers have been crying foul of unworkable and expensive regulations.
Another 16 commercial beef farmers have been selected to take part in the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme designed to help drive the uptake of genetics in the industry.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Kiwi exporters will be $100 million better off today as the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comes into force.
Making things simpler, not harder, for deer farmers in farm planning and coping with regulations is Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) industry capability manager John Ladley’s current focus.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is launching an online business directory called The Country Women’s Collective to promote and support entrepreneurial rural women.
New Zealand actor Sam Neill has joined the Campaign for Wool NZ as an ambassador, lending his name and profile to educate and advocate for New Zealand strong wool.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…