Leah Prankerd: A passion for dairying and farmer support
It was love that first led Leah Prankerd to dairying.
OPINION: Your old mate wonders if the current chair of DairyNZ, Jim van der Poel, is the very same Jim van der Poel who is now canvassing to retain his directorship of the dairy industry-good body.
The Jim van der Poel on the electioneering trail says that farmers shouldn’t be taxed for methane emissions until it is proven that there is actually a problem.
Surely this can’t be the same Jim van der Poel – the methane messiah – who has been beating the He Waka eka Noa (HWEN) drum for the past 3 years and demanding that farmers sign on the dotted line and get with the HWEN programme or be thrown into the ETS fire of doom?
Dairy levy payers have until October 10 to cast their votes. Will they send a similar message – like their sheep and beef farming colleagues – who voted out their chair earlier this year?
According to ASB, Fonterra's plan to sell it's Anchor and Mainlands brands could inject $4.5 billion in additional spending into the economy.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.

OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…
One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…