The politics of climate change
OPINION: The Financial Times, a major international newspaper, featured New Zealand on its front page at the beginning of June. It wasn't for the right reasons.
Bringing farming into a revamped emissions trading scheme (ETS) is now being considered by the interim climate change committee, says Climate Change Minister James Shaw.
“The committee, announced two weeks ago, will consult with the public and sector groups, including agriculture, from about October until the end of this year,” he told Dairy News. “It will then aim to report back about June-July next year.”
Asked if dairy farmers should be concerned about how they will be affected, Shaw said he didn’t want to pre-empt the interim committee’s work.
“It is neither the interim committee’s intention, nor the Government’s,to make dairy farmers worry.
“This is why we want to consult with them and all NZers, and gather as much expert evidence as possible on which to make whatever just transition is required, with the necessary supports to ensure transition is fair and sustainable,” says Shaw.
“I urge farmers and their [lobby groups] to make submissions to the committee, whose six members have respected expertise in relation to agriculture.
“Dr Harry Clark (a member) is a leader in agricultural greenhouse gas research and is the director of the New
Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.
“And deputy chair Lisa Tumahai... oversees the operation of Ngai Tahu Farming and its work in agribusiness.
“I know lots of farmers are already taking action on environmental issues and the Government wants to work with them to continue that good work and scale it up.”
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
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