Love for the environment a driver for research career
Dr Roshean Woods says helping bring the latest tools and technology into dairy farmers’ hands is one of the best things about her role.
DairyNZ says it will complete a submission on both the winter grazing and the freshwater farm plan consultations, providing firm feedback to Government.
It is also supporting farmers to make submissions on both consultations.
Consultation on the proposed intensive winter grazing amendments proposed by the Government is open until October 27.
The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) says it has received feedback that aspects of the intensive winter grazing regulations may require modification to support effective implementation and achieve improved environmental outcomes.
"This particularly relates to conditions that are weather-dependent or difficult to practically comply with. We are proposing changes to the conditions so the regulations can operate as they were intended to," MfE says.
DairyNZ says the potential deferral of wintering regulations to November 2022 will provide time for detail to be worked out and enables farmers to continue their plans for next season.
While there has been a two-week extension in light of Covid-19 lockdown, DairyNZ remains very concerned about the broader pace and scale of regulatory change facing farmers and the schedule of reforms underway.
"We want farmers and industry representatives to have time to provide robust feedback during the many government consultation processes underway, so regulations are practical behind the farm gate and achieve the desired outcomes.
"We know regulatory change is having an impact on farmer wellbeing. The policies coming through government departments must be prioritised, phased and better managed as a collective."
Red meat farmers have dealt a major blow to their umbrella farmer body, Beef + Lamb New Zealand - rejecting an increase in directors’ fees.
The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as possible.
Southland-based Mataura Valley Milk can now lay claim to be the first all-electric dairy factory in New Zealand.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
Meat co-operative Alliance Group has bagged four gold medals at the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards, achieving top honours for every cut entered.
There is increasing evidence that dairy demand is on the upswing, according to Rabobank senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins.
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