Another crack to increase B+LNZ director fees
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is having another crack at increasing the fees of its chair and board members.
Beef+Lamb NZ says current Government policies will see too much carbon forestry planted and urgent change is needed.
Last week, Climate Change Minister James Shaw released a discussion paper aimed at helping shape NZ's emissions reduction plan. BLNZ says the paper contains a slight shift in how the Government is talking about the role of carbon-only exotic forestry in addressing climate change.
"We welcome the Government's recognition that fossil fuel emissions must be reduced, rather than continually offset," says chief executive Sam McIvor.
"The discussion document indicates any decision on changing the ETS rules would come by the end of 2022. We're concerned that's not fast enough given the scale and pace of land conversion happening."
McIvor says urgent action is needed to adjust the ETS and limit the amount of carbon forestry offsets available to fossil fuel emitters. NZ is the only country with a regulatory ETS that currently allows 100% carbon forestry offsetting. "We are absolutely not anti-forestry - we're concerned about carbon-only forestry. There is a better solution, where much of New Zealand's required budgets for sequestration from forestry could come from the integration of trees on sheep and beef farms, rather than through conversion of whole farms for carbon forestry."
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
According to a new report, the Safer Rides initiative, which offered farmers heavily discounted crush protection devices (CPDs) for quad bikes, has made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around farm vehicle safety.
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