Tuesday, 29 July 2025 10:25

Not so cuddly

Written by  The Hound

OPINION: The image of regenerative farmers as kind, cuddly progressive types took a hit when one of their own took to social media to gloat over Bayer Crop Science's decision to close its Hastings research site.

The closure is a worry, especially given the very real potential for other multinationals to pull away from local product development.

NZIER estimates that NZ would suffer economic losses of $7.5 to $11.4 billion without effective crop protection.

Bayer's withdrawal will cost jobs and mean fewer tools for farmers.

Our 'kind & cuddly' regen farmer reckons, "Great to see this poison company leaving!" 

He says "smart farmers" like him are adapting to life without chemicals and the rest of you are "dinosaurs".

Humble as well as kind! Your old mate reckons if this is how their poster boy acts, the 'regen' lobby needs a rebrand!

More like this

Stop the rot!

OPINION: Bayer Crop Science closing its Hastings research site could be the tip of the iceberg.

Dollars go offshore

OPINION: The Advertising Standards Authority’s 2024 report revealed that not only is social media rotting our brains, it is also taking a growing chunk of New Zealand’s ad revenue offshore.

Trials show promise for regenerative farming

Regenerative farming trials in Gisborne, in partnership with Woolworths, LeaderBrand, and Plant & Food Research, are uncovering promising opportunities for sustainable vegetable farming in New Zealand.

Plant-based joke

OPINION: Some users of social media website X, formerly Twitter, are hard to understand.

Tik Tok

OPINION: While Tik Tok may be in the bad books of western Governments over security fears, the social media app is proving a boon for some Kiwi companies who are using it to market their products in Asia.

Featured

How Wearable Tech Powers This 1,850-Cow Dairy Farm

For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.

New Dairy Welfare Code Released, Takes Effect 2027

The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.

Federated Farmers Welcomes RMA Replacement Passing

Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

'LinkedIn Greens'

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…

UK Warning

OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter