Bridging the gap with rural New Zealand
OPINION: One thing I keep hearing from rural New Zealanders is the importance of relationships. Strong relationships don’t just happen - they take trust, consistency, and time.
Climate Change Minister James Shaw says New Zealand dairy is the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitter but that's not good enough.
“We cannot say that this is as good as it gets and that we can’t do anymore,” Shaw told the DairyNZ Farmers Forum in Hamilton today.
Shaw noted that the sector’s emission has dropped from 0.88/kg carbon dioxide equivalent/kg of product to 0.75/kg.
But he points out that while we are improving emissions per unit of production, the total volume of emissions still matters.
“That’s because it’s the total amount that makes the difference," he says.
Shaw praised the work done by the dairy sector, including its climate change ambassadors and through He waka eke noa- the world-first partnership between the farming industry and government, aimed at building a framework to reduce agricultural emissions.
Shaw says the NZ dairy sector is extremely innovative in a competitive global environment.
“The sector has in the last few years demonstrated its commitment to making a difference,” he says.
About 400 farmers are attending the one-day event.
Fieldays 2025 opens this week with organisers saying the theme, 'Your Place', highlights the impact the event has on agriculture both in the Southern Hemisphere and across the globe.
Sam Carter, assistant manager for T&G's Pakowhai Sector, has been named the Hawke's Bay 2025 Young Grower of the Year.
The CEO of Apples and Pears NZ, Karen Morrish, says the strategic focus of her organisation is to improve grower returns.
A significant breakthrough in understanding facial eczema (FE) in livestock brings New Zealand closer to reducing the disease’s devastating impact on farmers, animals, and rural communities.
Farmer co-operative LIC has closed its satellite-backed pasture measurement platform – Space.
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