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New regulations may lead to farmer exodus

Fed’s national freshwater spokesman Colin Hurst says the cost of regulations is sucking money out of rural sector.

A number of Northland dairy farmers are thinking of leaving the industry due to the cost of environmental farm plans that they will need to have in place under Essential Freshwater rules.

No money, no recovery

Paul Paynter says recovery action is needed fast.

A leading Hawke's Bay orchardist says claims that the recovery is going well are simply not true.

Is augmented reality the future of farming?

AR technology was one of many new science, technology and farming practices discussed at the Farmers’ Forum.

Imagine a farmer being able to tell a paddock’s pasture cover and dry matter content just by looking at it, or accessing information about a cow’s body condition score in the same way.

'Gold standard' FTA welcomed by red meat farmers

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins describes the free trade agreement as a "gold standard FTA".

A free trade agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and the UK comes into force on May 31.

Emissions offsetting through forestry at odds with rest of the world

Beef + Lamb NZ chief executive Sam McIvor says using forestry to offset fossil fuel emissions is a short-term fix creating long-term problems.

New research has found New Zealand’s policy of allowing fossil fuel emitters to offset all their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by planting trees is at odds with the rest of the world, and it’s having a damaging impact on the agricultural sector and rural communities.

Waiting for answers

DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel says farming going into an Emissions Trading Scheme would be stupid.

Dairy industry leader Jim van der Poel still believes farmers going into an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will be "a stupid thing".

Bay left in limbo!

Farmers and growers in the Hawke's Bay are frustrated and angry with a lack of Government leadership following the destruction of farms and orchards in the region by Cyclone Gabrielle back in February. Photo Credit: Paul McGill.

Frustration and anger has reached boiling point among Hawke's Bay horticulturists at the lack of action by the Government in dealing with the Cyclone Gabrielle recovery operation.

High demand for cyclone relief funding

Cyclone Gabrielle left many areas cut off and farms and orchards severely damaged. Photo Credit: New Zealand Defence Force.

Two months on from Cyclone Gabrielle, Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says it is experiencing high demand from those seeking to access the organisation’s Adverse Events Fund.