Sheep & Beef Farm Conversion to Forestry Slows, Risk Remains
Conversions of sheep and beef farms to forestry have slowed, however new research from Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) suggests land of value for food production remains at risk.
OPINION: Your old mate reckons recent ‘research’ carried out by consultants PWC – claiming that ‘actively managed carbon forestry’ creates 25% more local jobs than sheep and beef farming on low productivity land – is about as accurate as a bent rifle.
The ‘research’ was conducted and paid for by an ‘independent’ group called the Climate Forestry Association, which consists of, among others, “foresters, consultants, and investors” who apparently “recognise that we are in a climate emergency and that forestry and forest management has a crucial role in combating climate change”.
So, no vested interests promoting this then – not!
The Hound reckons that if you believe these ridiculous claims being spruiked around various NZ media organisations on behalf of the CFA by an expensive public relations firm, then he has a very good bridge in Auckland that he can sell you!
OPINION: In politics, credibility is and should be big. It must surely rank higher than charisma, which is quite trite and superficial. Yet, voters nowadays are often wooed and influenced by how someone looks or talks at a superficial level. TV plays a huge role in this.
Farmers can spend less time on paperwork, thanks to a new data sharing agreement between DairyNZ’s DairyBase and LIC’s MINDA software.
Kaikōura families affected by July's severe storm have found a practical solution to a problem that's kept some children away from regular schooling for weeks: a washed-out section of Inland Kaikōura Road, which has stopped the local school bus from running its usual route.
Rural New Zealand is welcoming the Government’s recent package of rural healthcare initiatives.
Interest in agritech and production animal systems has prompted Massey University's School of Agriculture and the Environment to new majors to its popular animal science degree.
Ballance Agrinutrients chief executive Kelvin Wickham says despite a tough year, he is pleased the business has returned to profit.

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