Building trust
OPINION: The war of words between Southland farmers and Environment Southland over winter grazing inspections reflects a deep lack of trust among farmers for the regional council.
Federated Farmers says palm kernel expeller (PKE) is not to be blamed for Indonesian forest fires.
The fires, which have burned for more than three weeks, were a result of clearing rainforests and peatlands for palm plantations. Indonesia is now on track to release more carbon dioxide this year than the entire United Kingdom.
"It's important to remember that PKE is not the reason for these fires or tropical deforestation. It is a by-product of the extraction of palm oil and palm kernel oil which would otherwise be treated as waste," says Federated Farmers Dairy chair Andrew Hoggard.
"Dairy farmers are taking this waste product and making use of it as a supplementary food source, used mainly as an alternative to pasture during adverse weather such as droughts, to maintain the welfare of herds and the productivity of New Zealand's vitally important dairy industry."
The Feds say they echo the concerns of Greenpeace and others regarding the devastation and environmental impact of forest fires.
However, Greenpeace has in the past condemned PKE for contributing to deforestation and its high carbon cost.
Greenpeace executive director Dr Russel Norman is now urging Fonterra to provide evidence that its use of palm products is not contributing to the fires.
Hoggard replied "This is typical tall poppy stuff. Fonterra and its dairy farmers source their PKE from a single suppler that operates on a sustainable basis."
"This provider – Wilmar – has a 'no burning, no deforestation' policy and its plantation operations are audited by The Forest Trust, an independent, non-government organisation. To lay any of the blame for these fires with Fonterra is utterly unfair."
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Balclutha farmer Renae Martin remembers the moment she fell in love with cows.
Academic freedom is a privilege and it's put at risk when people abuse it.
All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.
Claims that some Southland farmers were invoiced up to $4000 for winter grazing compliance checks despite not breaching rules are being rejected by Environment Southland.
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
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