Forestry cuts into stock numbers
There is an urgent need for the Government to put a limit on the sale of farms for forestry - particularly for carbon farming.
More science and technology, more trees and fewer livestock is the prescription that the Climate Change Commission has offered up in its draft report on how to reduce greenhouse gases in the agriculture sector.
The report covers all aspects of New Zealand society and includes agriculture.
In the 200 page chronicle, the Climate Commission sets out a plan for NZ to meet its greenhouse gas emissions targets by 2050. It is a draft report, based on the commission’s own research and submissions from a wide range of organisations and individuals. It is now out for consultation before a final report is prepared by the end of May.
Commission chair Rod Carr says to achieve the Government’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050, there needs to be transformational and lasting change across society and the economy. He says the Government must act now and pick up the pace.
Carr says the targets will not be met unless there is strong and decisive action to drive low emissions technology and behavioural change across all sectors.
He adds that connectivity – namely the widespread roll out of broadband – is critical to meeting these targets.
Carr told Rural News that agriculture has a large role to play in reducing emissions and farming needs to become even more efficient. He says while improvements have been made in the last few decades, more must happen.
“I think the ask of agriculture is similar to all New Zealanders, it is ambitious and realistic,” he says.
Carr told Rural News that under the current policies, NZ will not meet the targets and that between now and 2035. However, he believes some policies and support can be put in place to achieve a 13% reduction in biogenic methane by 2030 and a 20% reduction by 2035. But he concedes that further action will be needed to meet the 2050 target.
A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.
Free workshops focused on managing risk in sharefarming got underway last week.
Annual farmer gathering, the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), is set to make history as it heads to Timaru for the first time.
Installing 400 solar panels at their Taranaki piggery and cropping operation will have significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits for the Stanley family.
WoolWorks, New Zealand’s largest wool-scouring company, has partnered with the Lions Club of Riverton to help raise money for much-needed repairs to the Southland town’s swimming pool.
OPINION: The dairy industry will be a major beneficiary of a new free trade deal between NZ and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).
OPINION: Was the ASB Economic Weekly throwing shade on Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr when reporting on his speech in…
OPINION: A reader recently had a shot at the various armchair critics that she judged to be more than a…