Editorial: Putting more lamb on Kiwi plates
OPINION: Putting more lamb on Kiwi dinner plates is one way to boost returns to farmers.
OPINION: There was an extra spring in the step of farmers at the Fieldays last week.
On the eve of the four-day annual event, the rural sector got the news that the Coalition Government partners were coming good on their election promise to keep agriculture out of New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme (ETS).
The Government also announced the disbanding of He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN), an industry partnership to set pricing and reduce methane emissions on farms, an initiative that never took off among farmers.
Federated Farmers had four words on HWEN’s demise – ‘goodbye and good riddance’.
Federated Farmers, Beef + Lamb NZ and DairyNZ have all welcomed the decision, however, Labour and the Greens are among those who are critical.
Farmers want a measurement and reporting framework that is practical and useful for them. They would never accept a plan that would see 20% of sheep and beef farms, and 5% of dairy farmers, priced out of existence.
For its part the Government is committed to meeting climate change obligations without shutting down Kiwi farms.
It doesn’t make sense to send jobs and production overseas, while less carbon-efficient countries produce the food the world needs.
That’s why the Government wants to focus on finding practical tools and technology for farmers to reduce their emissions in a way that won’t reduce production or exports.
Kiwi farmers agree that they are going to need tools and technology so they can reduce emissions without reducing production or exports.
That’s why they support the Government in investing further in R&D to develop practical tools to help lower on-farm emissions while protecting production.
The Government has funding – including additional $50 million is going to the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre over the next five years on projects including the development of a methane vaccine; a project to breed lower emissions cattle; and accelerating the work on methane and nitrous oxide inhibitors.
The Fieldays week certainly turned out to be a week of good deals and great news for farmers!
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says while people are opening about mental health, there’s still disproportionately high rates of suicide and depression in rural communities.
Skewed policy, favouring forestry over farming, should be blamed for Alliance Group’s proposal to close its Timaru meatworks, says Federated Farmers.
FIL has launched a new online survey to gain valuable insights into the challenges dairy farmers face in meeting their milk quality and mastitis prevention goals.
Alliance Group has announced a proposal to close its Smithfield meat processing plant in Timaru, South Canterbury.
Lambing is now well advanced around much of New Zealand, including in areas where drought-like conditions are presenting real challenges for farmers, on top of a poor run of prices for their product.
A new trade agreement between New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could boost New Zealand’s halal meat exports.
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