NZ’s push for a ‘Global Alliance’ on agricultural greenhouse gas mitigation research has been given a strong nudge forward, with at least 20 nations attending a forum on the sidelines of the World Food Security Conference in Rome this week. Agriculture-dependent economies such as Uruguay and Argentina will rub shoulders with the US, China, Japan, […]
The RBNZ is consulting with banks over their pattern of rural lending and will require them to change their model in coming months to take a smoothed, “through the cycle” approach, rather than the pattern of recent years of lending heavily in good times and withdrawing credit when times get tough. Deputy Governor Grant Spencer […]
John Key has made clear farmers are expected to take their additional burden for agricultural emissions. Comparisons with Aust need to be made carefully. Aust farm emissions will still be counted in the country’s liabilities, so if they’re not in an ETS, they will be targeted by emissions-reducing domestic regulations instead. What those regulations look […]
Silver Fern Farms may move to a global strategy for sourcing meat for export markets, with an initial evaluation of lamb from Uruguay. CEO Keith Cooper says the process is “a work in progress” and “very, very early days.” Silver Fern would join Alliance Group in assessing offshore sources of meat, in much the same […]
The RBNZ is consulting with banks over their pattern of rural lending and will require them to change their model in coming months to take a smoothed, “through the cycle” approach, rather than the pattern of recent years of lending heavily in good times and withdrawing credit when times get tough. Deputy Governor Grant Spencer […]
With December’s UN climate change conference in Copenhagen looming, a Wellington think tank is suggesting NZ de-emphasise greenhouse gas emissions. The self-funded report from the NZ Institute of Economic Research says the nation hasn’t done the economic modeling to determine if it’s on the right track and risks damaging the productive sector in trying to […]
Meat & Wool has taken the inevitable step to tighten its budget after wool growers voted to dump their funding levy. Chairman Mike Petersen says the adjustment is required given the drop in funding. The biggest projects for the chop are the $2.5m spent on its wool technical support and enterprise programme and a $1m […]
A 50% rebound in dairy product prices from their lows may achieve what diplomacy failed to - taking the wind out of export subsidies for farmers in the US and Europe. Trade Minister Tim Groser says “It has taken the heat out of the issue. There’s an uneasy equilibrium with the Americans and the Europeans. […]
The Govt is likely to enjoy a relatively smooth process in its review of Environment Canterbury (ECan), with a more sympathetic chairman, Alec Neill, installed since September. William Rolleston, a south Canterbury farmer and biotech entrepreneur says the changing of the guard means the Govt is unlikely to go the next step and install a […]
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