fbpx
Print this page
Tuesday, 29 July 2025 10:25

Not so cuddly

Written by  The Hound
Not so cuddly

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!

Stop the rot!

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

Dollars go offshore

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.

Popular Reads

Featured

A Year of Delivery for Fonterra

A Year of Delivery for Fonterra

Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.

Editorial: Common Sense Prevails

OPINION: The Government's decision to reinstate agriculture and horticultural science as a standalone subject from Year 11 is the right one.

Miriam Lauridsen on Farm Health and Safety Culture

When dairy manager Miriam Lauridsen learned the farm, she was joining held weekly health and safety meetings, she initially thought that was “a bit over the top”. Experiencing that culture changed her mind.

National

Machinery & Products

Claas Balers Turn 30

Claas Balers Turn 30

Claas built its first variable chamber round baler - the Variant 100 - in 1996, so 2026 marks 30 years…