Govt urged to reduce ETS units
The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as possible.
MAF says the Emissions Trading Scheme, and a generally positive outlook for wood and fibre demand, is behind a 27% increase in exotic forest plantings in the year to April 2011.
Based on reports from commercial forestry nurseries, MAF estimates 60,000ha were planted, of which 48,000ha (80%) were re-plantings.
Nearly half of the estimated new planting was funded through MAF's Afforestation Grant Scheme and the East Coast Forestry Project.
According to the annual National Exotic Forestry Description report, which surveys growers with at least 1000ha planted, about 40,000ha was harvested, on par with the previous year.
However, other sources show an increase in total harvest area for the year, indicating a higher proportion of harvesting and planting by smaller growers not captured by the NEFD survey.
Yield per hectare was up 6% probably due to higher log prices justifying better levels of recovery per tree, and a small increase in average age at harvest of the main species, radiata pine, at 28.6 years, up from 28.4 years.
Meanwhile, statistics reported in MAF's September quarter production and trade update show total forestry export earnings increased NZ$32.7 million or 3% to NZ$1.1 billion in the three months to September 30, taking annual earnings to end of September to $4.6 billion, accounting for 10.1% of total merchandise exports.
Export earnings for logs remained relatively strong in the quarter, rising $NZ77.2m or 25.8% due to strong demand and high log prices. China continues to dominate the export market, taking a record 2.2m cubic metres, a 32.6% increase.
Sawn timber export earnings fell NZ$31.4m or 13.6% with production down 0.113m cubic metres over the quarter due to high log prices, weak domestic demand and a high exchange rate. Wood processors have become more pessimistic about their prospects.
Demand from Japan for wood panel products, though, remains strong following the natural disasters in March 2011.
A half-year update of the annual Situation and Outlook for New Zealand Agriculture and Forestry indicates Chinese demand for New Zealand logs is easing with inventories at record levels and increased competition from other nations.
This, combined with subdued construction activity, had led to a revision down from a NZ$4.69 billion forecast for the year to June 30 2012, to NZ$4.26 billion.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
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