Editorial: Hope for the best
New Zealand's dairy industry is right to call out Donald Trump over the damage the additional 15% tariff the US is imposing on our exports but also imposition on lower tariffs on our competitors.
OPINION: Donald Trump's focus on Canada is causing concern for the country’s dairy farmers.
While Trump wants to make Canada the 51st US state, it’s clear that the Canadian dairy industry is also on the president’s mind.
The US is said to have long desired to expand access to the tightly controlled Canadian dairy market. At the same time, Canada has strongly defended its supply management system. Trump linked his threat to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico to claims about fentanyl and migrants. And, when it comes to dairy, the new Trump administration is making it clear that Canada will face a familiar fight.
Dairy trade might be small – the US exported US$1billion worth of dairy to Canada in 2023, while the total amount of goods shipped across its northern border was about US$354 billion – but the industry has a reputation as a long-time, cross-border irritant.
Canadian dairy farmers hope the current trade imbalance in dairy, which greatly favours the US, will be a saviour. Canada exported about $300m in dairy products to the US in 2023.
Brett Wotton, an Eastern Bay of Plenty kiwifruit grower and harvest contractor, has won the 2025 Kiwifruit Innovation Award for his work to support lifting fruit quality across the industry.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
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