Dairy conversions surge but no return to the heady days
Environment Canterbury has confirmed a surge in interest in new dairy conversions, with four effluent discharge permits for conversions granted since the start of the year.
Your old mate has heard about framing a question to get the answer you want, but reckons environmental campaigners down south have taken this a step further.
They have been claiming that South Canterbury’s Lake Opuha is the subject of chemical contamination and have been pestering Environment Canterbury (ECan) to do tests for DDT. However, the regional authority says campaigner Allan Campbell told an ECan official the banned pesticide DDT had been added to one of several samples the group had tested for chemicals. Apparently the group added the toxic chemical “to check the effectiveness of the laboratory’s testing”. Campbell said the group suspected the lake bed was contaminated and “their test results support our findings.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
The 2026 Red Dairy Cow conference will be hosted by New Zealand in March.
While global dairy commodity prices continue to climb in most key exporting countries, the second half of the year is expected to bring increased downside risks.
In a surprise move, Federated Farmers meat and wool group has dumped its chair Toby Williams.
Former MP and Southland farmer Eric Roy has received the Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand’s Primary Industries Award.
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.