Why our future depends on taking biosecurity seriously
OPINION: When it comes to biosecurity, we often hear about the end of a response, but it’s the beginning that helps determine our success.
DairyNZ's new chief executive Campbell Parker says the dairy sector should take lessons from the stalled primary sector climate action partnership He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) and move forward.
Parker, who took up his role this month, believes there is no need to start from scratch.
HWEN was a collaboration between the agriculture sector organisations, the Federation of Maori Authoritie, and the outgoing Government to set up a framework by 2025, allowing farmers to measure, manage and reduce on-farm emissions and include an appropriate pricing mechanism.
However, the process stalled and no agreement was reached before the end of this month's general election.
The incoming National-led Government has signalled working more closely with farmers on emissions pricing and mitigation.
Parker told Rural News that a lot of really good work has gone into the HWEN process and he believes the intent was good.
"There was good alignment with industry and trying to shape with Government what the ouctome should be," he says. "Unfortunately, it stalled for a period. Then there was late engagement around it and now it's sitting in limbo.
"I think what's really important is that we take the learnings from that process and move forward: we don't want to start from scratch."
Parker says from his early observation at DairyNZ, many people put a lot of effort into HWEN to try and get the engagement right.
However, farmers - both dairy and sheep and beef - have expressed opposition to the outgoing Government's proposal around the pricing mechanism and entry into the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme.
Parker says farmers are looking for more clarity "around what the guardrails are and the timeframes and the mechanisms." He expects DairyNZ and other industry-good bodies will continue to work with the incoming government on emissions pricing.
With the formation of the new government still being worked out, farming groups are preparing to engage with whoever will hold the key agriculture, climate change and environment portfolios.
With the formation of the new government still being worked out, farming groups are preparing to engage with whoever will hold the key agriculture, climate change and environment portfolios.
"We are already working on a plan on how we engage with the government on important issues," says Parker.
Fonterra has unveiled the first refrigerated electric truck to deliver dairy products across Auckland.
Research and healthcare initiatives, leadership and dedication to the sector have been recognised in the 2025 Horticulture Industry Awards.
Virtual fencing and pasture management company Halter says its NZ operations has delivered a profit of $2.8 million after exclusion of notional items.
Manuka honey trader Comvita slumped to a $104 million net loss last financial year, reflecting prolonged market disruption, oversupply and pricing volatility.
The Government has struck a deal with New Zealand's poultry industry, agreeing how they will jointly prepare for and respond to exotic poultry diseases, including any possible outbreak of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI).
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.