Wednesday, 20 March 2024 11:25

Papal visit

Written by  Milking It

OPINION: European farmers are going to extreme lengths to have their message heard.

As part of the protests that have erupted in many other European countries, hundreds of farmers and their tractors have gathered on the outskirts of Rome. They demand fair prices for their products, the continuation of the reduction of taxes on agricultural diesel, stricter controls on imports, a reduction in bureaucracy, as well as other concessions.

Media reports say a cow was among thousands of the faithful and tourists in St Peter's Square in the Vatican on Sunday to attend the traditional Angelus prayer of Pope Francis.

The cow, 'Ercolina', which has become one of the symbols of the protest in Italy, was led along Via della Concilliazlone and then arrived in the piazza to be milked, to the amazement of those waiting for the Pope to appear at the window of his study.

"I hand wrote a letter to Pope Francis asking if we could come to the Angelus to have the cow blessed," breeder Pietro Tavazzani said. The Pope agreed.

More like this

Another win

OPINION: Feds Southland 'pres' Jason Herrick and colleagues who continue the good fight against bureaucratic madness on behalf of farmers, have had another win - for now, at least - getting a court decision granting a 'stay' on rules in the Southland Water and Land Plan until changes can be made to section 70 of the RMA by central goverment, somtheing they clearly signaled after the election.

Bagrie bags banks

OPINION: Noted economist and self-promoter Cameron Bagrie took one look at KPMG's recently released Financial Institutions Performance Survey on banks and zeroes in one key number that suggests banks are so risk averse in this country that they are probably stifling growth and innovation.

King Island rescue

OPINION: Two Australian cheesemakers have rescued the iconic Tasmanian cheese company King Island Dairy.

Baileys vegan flavour

OPINION: World famous liqueur maker Baileys is the latest to dabble with plant-based products.

Dairy awards

OPINION: Results of regional New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) are trickling in but there's a worrying trend emerging.

Featured

Mixed season for Waikato contractors

Last season was a mixed bag for Waikato contractors, with early planted forage maize, planted on the dry soils around Cambridge, doing badly after germination and failing to meet potential, says Jeremy Rothery, Jackson Contracting.

National

Machinery & Products

Gong for NH dealers

New Holland dealers from around Australia and New Zealand came together last month for the Dealer of the Year Awards,…

A true Kiwi ingenuity

The King Cobra raingun continues to have a huge following in the New Zealand market and is also exported to…

Data crucial to managing water

Watermetrics was formed as a water data collector and currently supplies and services modern technology such as flow meters, soil…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Another win

OPINION: Feds Southland 'pres' Jason Herrick and colleagues who continue the good fight against bureaucratic madness on behalf of farmers,…

Bagrie bags banks

OPINION: Noted economist and self-promoter Cameron Bagrie took one look at KPMG's recently released Financial Institutions Performance Survey on banks…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter