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OPINION: The Hound reckons Groundswell needs to be careful to avoid fights it doesn't need to be part of.
Already the highly successful rural ginger group has been labelled by some sector leaders, government ministers and their sympathisers in the commentariat as a bunch of entitled, redneck, right-wing aligned agitators in an effort to discredit it.
So, the recent 'statement of support' of the anti-mandate protestors at Parliament by Groundswell was probably not the smartest move.
It will only give its critcs more ammunition to fire false labels at the group and its supporters.
As it said in its statement, Groundswell's main focus should be on the "unworkable regulations impacting the rural sector".
Many would agree that Speaker Trevor Mallard's turning the sprinklers on protestors make him come across as a complete 'duckwit', but that was no reason for Groundswell to make any comment about the protest.
A drop in methane targets announced by the Government this month has pleased farmers but there are concerns that without cross-party support, the targets would change once a Labour-led Government is voted into office.
OPINION: This old mutt is loath to sound like Groundswell has been topping up his bowl with brisket off-cuts, but the ginger group makes a good point about the arguments raised in favour of toeing the Paris Agreement line.
The ACT Party's call for a better deal on the Paris Agreement on climate change is being backed by farmer organisations.
OPINION: Your old mate reckons townie Brooke van Velden, the Minister of Workplace (or is it Woke Place) Relations is now showing how underemployed she is as a minister by initiating an investigation into whether young children should be banned from collecting eggs on farms and feeding animals.
OPINION: There's an infamous term coined by a US general during the Vietnam war, specifically in reference to the battle of Ben Tre: "We had to burn the village to save it."
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.
Going one better than a frustratingly close second place finish at last year's event, the country's top axeman, Jack Jordan of Taumaranui, last weekend won the Stihl Timbersports World Championship individual event in.
Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show president Brent Chamberlain says a big development for this year is the Wool Zone, first introduced two years ago as a showplace for everything produced from wool, but now greatly enlarged with its own Wool Marquee and more than 30 trade sites.
Salmonellosis is a serious disease in cattle.
Drench resistance is already hitting farm profits; it's not just a future problem.
Applications are open for Horticulture New Zealand's (HortNZ) 2026 scholarship programme, with 20 funding opportunities available.
