Editorial: O Canada!
OPINION: Politicians the world over have as their priority - get elected and stay elected.
OPINION: Plan for the worst and hope for the best!
This will be the mantra of many farmers up and down the east coast of the country as warnings come of a potential devastating drought hitting this summer.
NIWA’s principal scientist Chris Brandolino warns that weather patterns are emerging that will likely cause the early arrival of El Nino. NIWA is already starting to see dryness develop in parts of the North Island – including Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti, as well on the South Island’s east coast.
“Normally the dryness begins in November, but this year it is likely to kick in early – meaning October.”
For those farming in the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti regions, already severely damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle, a potential drought is the last thing they need.
Already major players in the primary sector are mobilising staff ahead of NIWA’s predictions that east coast regions are about to be hit by potentially one of the country’s worst droughts.
Beef+Lamb NZ is running a series of events and webinars aimed at ensuring farm profitability in the light of the impending drought. These webinars are running every Monday evening with guest presenters talking about ways to best deal with a drought and with other problems on farm.
B+LNZ’s says it’s talking with the other primary sector organisations to ensure consistent messaging and avoid any duplication of work.
It is good to see that rural organisations are analysing rural community needs and the challenges they may face in the next six to twelve months to get a handle on what support is needed. A key part of this will be monitoring the well-being of people – especially those affected by Gabrielle given what they have gone through – and what they are potentially facing.
The reality is that dealing with the weather – and things like floods and droughts – are part of the ‘uncontrollables’ of farming. However, planning and preparing for various scenarios is what farmers can control.
As they say, to be forewarned is to be forearmed and hopefully farmers are taking the drought warnings seriously and planning for the worst, while hoping for the best.
OPINION: Politicians the world over have as their priority - get elected and stay elected.
Craigmore Sustainables says it is committed to investing in professional and career development for its farm managers and employees.
Nine lucky school leavers passionate about farming will join Pamu for a two-year journey into agriculture, living and working at Pamu farm, Aratiatia near Taupo.
Nutritionists are urging Kiwis to kickstart their day with a piece of fresh fruit to help improve their health and wellbeing this autumn.
Under its innovation strategy, Craigmore Sustainables says it is collaborating with new innovators of technology across sustainability, people, animals and business management to enhance New Zealand's dairy sector.
Deeply cynical and completely illogical. That's how Kimberly Crewther, the executive director of DCANZ is describing the Canadian government's flagrant breach of international trade law in refusing to open its market to New Zealand dairy exports.