Nestle reportedly withdraws from methane accord
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
OPINION: The Hound was astounded at the glib response from Greens leader James Shaw to a written parliamentary question from ACT MP Mark Cameron.
Shaw was asked if he was surprised that farmer confidence was at a record low in the latest Farm Confidence Survey and if he believed one of the top concerns of farmer respondents was "regulation and compliance costs - a catch-all for the wave of reform, regulation, red tape and costs swamping the sector?"
Shaw replied: "The agriculture sector contributes 50% of New Zealand's gross emissions. Approximately 94% of our nitrous oxide emissions and around 91% of our biogenic methane emissions are from agriculture."
Cameron actually thought Shaw's office had mistakenly submitted the wrong answer, but they clarified it is exactly what the Climate Change Minister intended to say.
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.