The politics of climate change
OPINION: The Financial Times, a major international newspaper, featured New Zealand on its front page at the beginning of June. It wasn't for the right reasons.
Soil's ability to store carbon and contain greenhouse gases could globally limit climate warming, says a University of Sydney expert.
University of Sydney Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment Professor of Soil Science Alex McBratney, and colleagues, have published an essay on the topic in The Conversation to coincide with yesterday's global soil focus.
McBratney had many things to say about an international research programme launched by France's agriculture minister called '4 pour mille' or '4 per 1000', a project which sets a target of increasing the amount of carbon-containing organic matter in the world's soils by 0.4% a year.
McBratney says, "The world's soils could be a key ally in the fight to limit global warming to 2°C. Soils' ability to store carbon and contain greenhouse gases could be game-changing in the global effort to limit climate warming.
"Soils are able to store approximately 2.4 trillion tonnes of carbon, making it the largest terrestrial carbon pool. The top two metres of the planet's soils hold four times the amount of carbon stored in all the world's plants.
"The '4 per 1000' target proposed by France's agriculture minister is an ambitious aspiration, but perhaps even more important is the effect this initiative will have on promoting good soil management which will ultimately help to mitigate climate change."
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
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