Green but not much grass!
Dairy farmers in the lower North Island are working on protecting next season, according to Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre, who farms just north of the Horowhenua township of Levin.
Farmers are being overwhelmed by pressure to comply with new regulations.
Federated Farmers’ meat and wool section chair Miles Anderson told Rural News, at the recent Red Meat sector conference, of farmers’ problems in meeting the expectations of local and central government and meat companies.
It worries him that many farmers are quitting the industry because of this pressure.
“It adds a lot of psychological pressure on farmers and I fear that the smaller, family-type farm that’s been the backbone of NZ will find it harder to exist.”
Farmers face a variety of challenges – environmental change and climate change in particular. Anderson says he’d like to hear sound science on what is and what isn’t contributing to climate change.
“As for the environmental footprint of synthetic proteins being minor, I severely doubt this because of the intensive cropping needed to produce the precursors for the proteins; so you would have fertiliser use, chemical use and monoculture crops.
“With big areas you have biodiversity issues, water use and carbon in the soil, so I would like to see some evidential science on that as well.”
Consumer demand is also an issue. If the consumer is prepared to pay more for food verified as sustainably produced, farmers will do it, he says.
“But it’s doing stuff at cost for no return that I’m concerned about.”
He doubts NZ has done all it can to capture value in the marketplace and says the sector needs to work as a team to get the best returns.
“As country we are good at working in isolation and that needs to change,” Anderson says.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.