Returns lift, costs down - DairyNZ
The outlook for dairy farmers this season has improved, especially when compared to forecasts only six months ago, according to DairyNZ.
DairyNZ chair, Jim van der Poel, claims the HWEN proposal is a win-win for all New Zealanders.
He says during their consultation programme, 99% of farmers (who turned up to meetings) opposed agriculture being included in the ETS and 86% supported the farm-level proposal.
"This is because farmers want to be recognised for their own emission - not just an industry average," he told Rural New. "If they have some behavioural change or if they do something on farm to lessen their emissions, they want to be recognised for that."
Van der Poel says, under the HWEN proposal, there is an opportunity for levy funds to be recycled back to fund new research and tools to further help farmers reduce their emissions.
"Unlike the ETS, the HWEN system will actually reduce emissions, and will recognise and incentivise on-farm actions. It will invest in R&D to find new solutions, building on the already significant primary sector investment," he says.
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.