The Rudd Govt is about to launch a second attempt to push its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), an emissions trading scheme-equivalent, through both Houses of Parliament. But as is the case in NZ, the farming lobby is playing hardball, creating a rift within Opposition parties over their approach to a grand coalition sought by […]
Canterbury farmers will be able to farm more efficiently with approved water metering technology by taking much of the guess work out of water application and management. Environment Canterbury Councillor Angus McKay believes water metering technology makes farming a less risky business. “It’s a management tool helping control a precious resource in the best possible […]
Fonterra is seeking an urgent change to the ETS to ensure every part of the dairy supply chain, from farm to transport and processing, is covered in the legislative definition of trade-exposed elements of the industry. The co-operative gets less assistance from the ETS than other trade-exposed industries because of its treatment of stationary energy […]
Fed farmers wants the Govt to reign in what it sees as excesses in the way the Accident Compensation Corporation works claiming it has turned into a social welfare agency. It wants entitlements cut rather than levies boosted. The call comes after the Govt announced major hikes in levies with farmers being amongst the hardest […]
Changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme, delaying the inclusion of agriculture by two years, reflect Climate Change Minister Nick Smith’s belief the primary sector deserves “relatively generous” support, given its importance to the NZ economy. Papers released by his office show Smith argued putting too onerous a burden on farming will simply displace production to […]
Fed farmers wants the Govt to reign in what it sees as excesses in the way the Accident Compensation Corporation works claiming it has turned into a social welfare agency. It wants entitlements cut rather than levies boosted. The call comes after the Govt announced major hikes in levies with farmers being amongst the hardest […]
The latest ANZ commodity price index is good news for farmers’ cash-flow prospects with world prices for NZ’s export commodities soaring 6.8% in September, lead by rebounding dairy prices - its steepest rise in 22 years. The latest rise leaves the index at 20% above its low point of February 2008 but the rapidly appreciating […]
South Island meat co-operative Silver Fern Farms, has ended up raising a tenth of the funds it would have garnered by selling a half stake to Wrightson last year. Chairman Eoin Garden diplomatically says the low-wattage outcome is neither a success nor a failure because there is no pressing need for the funds.
Of the […]
Agriculture Minister David Carter is to assemble a taskforce for the wool industry to devise a unified strategy after farmers voted against continuation of the levy paid to Meat & Wool NZ. Carter called 35 industry players, including exporters, wool brokers, farmer groups, Wool Partners International, Landcorp and Ag Research, to a summit at Parliament […]
Business confidence bounded to a 10-year high last month and there’s likely more to come, since the survey was taken before Fonterra announced the increase to its milk payment for 2010. The agricultural sector isn’t quite on a tear but it is heading in the right direction, with confidence bounding between August and September. Stephen […]
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