Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
Rumours are circulating about a new farmer-led campaign aimed at challenging the current drive for taxing biogenic methane.
Rural News understands that this new farmer movement is set to launch very soon and will be pushing for a different approach to tackling on-farm emissions - especially in relation to methane.
It is understood the group will be promoting a 'methane accord', which it says will be a set of 'not negotiables' when it comes to analysing methane.
The group says its target audience is everyone - urban, rural, politicians (both outgoing and incoming). It also wants to ensure that the pressure goes on agri companies and co-operatives - such as Fonterra and Silver Fern Farm - to show their 'true colours' when it comes to pricing emissions.
"We have had enough of the Government and others in our midst - BLNZ, DairyNZ, Feds, Silver Fern Farms, Fonterra, ANZCO and Food and Fibre 'Leaders' Group - pretending to say all the right things but actually still fundamentally supporting the pricing of biogenic methane emissions," the group says.
It describes the current government and industry proposals to price agricultural emission via the He Waka Eke Noa accord as a plan to "self-sabotage" NZ's primary industry sectors.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.