Planting natives for the future
Te Awamutu dairy farmers Doug, Penny, Josh and Bayley Storey have planted more than 25,000 native trees on the family farm, adding to a generations-old native forest.
Primary Industries Minister David Carter says the Government is reviewing three forestry schemes to decide whether they need to be tweaked to encourage more forestry plantings.
This coincides with a fall in the international price of carbon from a high of $25 to the present low of $3 a tonne.
Carter says he's aware of the criticism about overseas carbon credits. "Anybody in the New Zealand forestry industry expecting a return out of carbon is obviously concerned. They are looking for ways to insulate New Zealand from the international carbon price. I personally believe we need to see more trees planted in New Zealand particularly in areas of the land which are eroding significantly."
Carter says the three schemes in question – The East Coast Forestry Project, The Hill Country Erosion Programme and the Afforestation Grant Scheme – are being reviewed.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.