US Launches Lamb Safeguard Probe, NZ Exports at Risk
As expected, the US has launched a safeguard investigation into lamb imports, a move that could impact New Zealand sheepmeat returns.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment report highlights that this issue is not as simple as whether agriculture is in or out of the ETS.
It requires a broader discussion than that, he says.
“For example, planting the right trees, in the right place, at the right time can buy us time to find options to reduce biological emissions from agriculture.”
The Government is supporting these efforts through the Afforestation Grant Scheme, the Erosion Control Funding Programme and the Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change research programme.
“The Government is also investing $20 million a year in research into developing new mitigation options like a vaccine to reduce emissions from agriculture, which is a very promising long term option.”
Guy says agricultural emissions make up 49% of New Zealand’s gross emissions.
“Reducing them while growing our economy is a difficult challenge, but it’s one we must solve.
“For that reason we recently established the biological emissions reference group to work with the sector to state an objective and agreed understanding of what can be done to reduce agricultural emissions.”
Blueberry growers are warning that fresh imports could pose a huge biosecurity risk for NZ’s horticulture sector.
As expected, the US has launched a safeguard investigation into lamb imports, a move that could impact New Zealand sheepmeat returns.
A milk glut around the world shows no sign of easing, putting downward pressure on farmgate milk prices for the next few months.
A pause on Waikato Regional Council's (WRC) plan change that sets new freshwater rules for farming could be announced in the coming weeks.
Tayla Steele is in her fourth year of a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at Massey University in Palmerston North.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says no new cases of H5 bird flu have been detected following a case found earlier this week.

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