Editorial: Getting the RMA overhaul right
OPINION: Making it easier to get things done while protecting the environment - that's the Government's promise when it comes to the overhaul of the problematic Resource Management Act (RMA).
OPINION: Growers and orchardists will be breathing easy following last week’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) ruling that there are no grounds to review the approval for the use of glyphosate.
Glyphosate – most commonly marketed as Round Up – is a herbicide sprayed onto the green foliage of plants, and absorbed within that plant to cause its death in about two weeks. Essentially, it kills the weeds that compete with the chosen crop for nutrients and water.
Glyphosate – most commonly marketed as Round Up – is a herbicide sprayed onto the green foliage of plants, and absorbed within that plant to cause its death in about two weeks. Essentially, it kills the weeds that compete with the chosen crop for nutrients and water.
A survey by Federated Farmers three years ago found that 93% of respondents used glyphosate. Farmers made it clear in the survey that they support continuing status quo use and regulation around glyphosate. They also made it clear that restricting or prohibiting the use of glyphosate would mean that they would be unable to farm to the same quality or quantity as they currently are.
The Environmental Law Initiative (ELI), applied to the EPA in February 2024 to decide whether there are grounds to reassess glyphosate and glyphosate-containing substances, cited significant new information about the negative effects of the substance.
After reviewing information provided by ELI and recent international research on the substance, a decision-making committee of the EPA has decided there are no grounds for a reassessment.
This is good news for our growers and orchardists. EPA’s ruling means they can continue to use herbicides like Round Up without new restrictions.
Farmers need the best tools and technological solutions to grow enough crops, using fewer natural resources to produce sufficient high-quality food, respect the environment, safeguard consumers and support themselves.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.
OPINION: In the same way that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, economists sometimes get it right.
OPINION: The proposed RMA reforms took a while to drop but were well signaled after the election.