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Federated Farmers says the Government's climate change target, announced last week, is an ambitious one for New Zealand in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030.
Feds climate change spokesman Anders Crofoot says this target is in line with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report which says reducing fossil fuel use will need to be the major focus to achieve this target.
However, Crofoot says agriculture will also play its part in developing technologies which will increase productivity while reducing carbon intensity of primary sector products.
"Agriculture takes its responsibilities as NZ and global citizens seriously and the primary sector already has an impressive track record in achieving carbon efficiency.
"We continue to play a role in meeting the world's demand for nutrient-dense protein and finding solutions which address climate change concerns and the food security dynamic.
"To date, the amount of carbon released in producing a block of butter here in NZ is the lowest in the world. It is important to make sure our approach to reducing NZ's emissions does not undermine our critical export industries.
"Climate change does not begin or end at NZ's borders and NZ plays a world leading role as one of the most emission-efficient food producers and exporters in the world."
Crofoot says NZ's primary sector has made huge gains in carbon efficiency in the past three decades, through enhanced animal and plant genetics, and greater understanding of livestock digestion and metabolism. He says our agricultural emissions intensity has declined at least 20% since 1990.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.
Leading figures from the major political parties will be questioned on their primary sector policies at the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, on 30 September.
Will the good times last? That's one of the key issues to come out of the latest Federated Farmers confidence survey.
Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.
A Labour-led Government won’t be bringing back the controversial freshwater rules of 2020.
National’s much-touted free trade deal with India featured in the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek, Hamilton on Wednesday night.
New Zealand's 2026-27 freshwater fishing season has opened, with anglers encouraged to head to rivers and lakes over the coming days as conditions look favourable across much of the country.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Pāmu has released its FY26 Integrated Annual Report, reporting a Net Operating Profit of $113 million, more than double the $49 million recorded in FY25.
