One of NZ’s most respected climate change scientists says NZ is wasting an extraordinary opportunity to lead the world in research on reducing methane emissions from ruminant animals. Professor Martin Manning, head of the NZ Climate Change Institute at Victoria University, made this impassioned claim during oral submissions to the special select committee on the […]
Good news for anxious Fonterra suppliers concerned about weak markets. The co-operative will have worked through its shipment backlog by August meaning stockpiles which have filled warehouses around the country will be drawn down. The dairy company was running 2-3 weeks behind normal deliveries as at Jan. 31 after opting to hold back product before […]
David Carter is talking up the potential benefits of the lifting of the moratorium on live sheep exports from NZ from 2010. He claims it could give NZ a viable sheep meat industry. “It’s exciting.” He believes the trade will boost prices. “This will tend to drive the whole market up.” However, the extent to […]
AgResearch and Lincoln University have announced plans to investigate a merger of the two institutions which, if approved by the Govt, could happen as early as July. The new institute - under the name and brand of Lincoln University - would have combined assets of about $485m and annual revenue of $230m. The backers say […]
The expansion of the Community Irrigation Fund (CIF) enabling local authorities to apply for rural water storage grants represents a significant boost for farmers. FedFarmers water spokesperson, Hugh Ritchie, says the Govt decision to expand the eligibility and assessment criteria of the CIF will add another string to the bow to support farmers. “On the […]
Westpac is warning in its latest bulletin if NZ farmers are required to pay a carbon tax or participate in an ETS, they might be placed at a competitive disadvantage relative to overseas farmers who do not face a price on carbon. An ETS can overcome this problem, whereas a carbon tax cannot. Under an […]
Farmers should consistently look for opportunities to make improvements to their farm systems and environment. Here are some initiatives you can take.
Increase pasture utilisation of the hill country. Apart from fencing, ways to do this include strategic planting of shade trees higher up slopes or the provision of water to draw stock up. The provision […]
Fonterra has been careful not to make too big a deal of the 16.6% jump in whole milk powder prices at its latest online auction, the first increase recorded on the trading platform. Head of Fonterra GlobalTrade, Kelvin Wickham, says the rebound may signal the supply-demand balance coming back into equilibrium. If sustained, it will […]
Trade Minister, Tim Groser, says South Korea President Lee Myung-Bak’s flying visit this month, culminating in a commitment to free trade agreement talks, shows the Asian nation is lowering “severe” access barriers for agricultural products in favour of a commitment to global trade. Lee and PM John Key agreed to a preliminary first round of […]
Theresa Gattung is winning support as she tours with the Wool Partners International road show, aiming to convince farmers to invest in a marketing co-operative part-owned by PGG Wrightson. WPI aims to usurp the decades-old auction system, connecting growers with end users via long-term contracts. Agriculture Minister David Carter says, “I don’t believe the auction […]
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