Greenpeace a charity?
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: Should there be an inquiry into virtual fencing technology for cows?
The decision will be in the Government's court once hearings and submissions are completed by the Parliament's petitions committee and a recommendation presented to the House of Representatives.
Over the past few weeks, stakeholders have been presenting to the committee following a petition from Golden Bay farmer Tim Rhodes calling for an inquiry into virtual fencing and its impact on animal welfare.
Federated Farmers opposes the petition, but SPCA is throwing its support behind it. Halter, which is marketing the technology, said in its submission that the system had safeguards in place to protect animal welfare, such as an automatic deactivation feature if cows failed to respond to cues.
Rhodes claims that the public need to be actively engaged with the good and the bad stories of virtual fencing.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.