Too Lenient
OPINION: Reckless action by Greenpeace in 2024 forced Fonterra to shut down a drying plant for four hours, costing the co-op about $300,000.
OPINION: The Hound would be a rich canine if he got a dollar for every time he's heard multi-national, fundraising organisation Greenpeace claim the answer to NZ's climate change challenge is to ban synthetic fertiliser.
However, according to the latest figures of NZ's greenhouse gas inventory, published in April this year, banning synthetic fertiliser won't make much difference.
It shows that while ag emissions make up 50% of the country's GHGs, nitrous oxide from synthetic fertilisers only makes up 4% of these ag emissions and therefore just 2% of NZ's total GHG emissions.
So, banning synthetic fertilisers in NZ would make a negligible reduction in our country's GHG output.
Perhaps Greenpeace should spend more time doing the maths on what actually might have made a real difference to our emissions profile than making up silly claims that just don't add up.
A verbal stoush has broken out between Federated Farmers and a new group that claims to be fighting against cheaper imports that undermine NZ farmers.
According to the latest ANZ Agri Focus report, energy-intensive and domestically-focused sectors currently bear the brunt of rising fuel, fertiliser and freight costs.
Having gone through a troublesome “divorce” from its association and part ownership of AGCO, Indian manufacturer TAFE is said to be determined to be seen as a modern business rather than just another tractor maker from the developing world.
Two long-standing New Zealand agricultural businesses are coming together to strengthen innovation, local manufacturing capability, and access to essential farm inputs for farmers across the country.
A new farmer-led programme aimed at bringing young people into dairy farming is under way in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.