Risky business
OPINION: In the same way that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, economists sometimes get it right.
OPINION: The Hound reckons if farmers in this country think they've got a problem with the small-minded officious bureaucrats imposing unworkable rules with little or no understanding of agricultural realities - it could be worse.
In France, many of that country's arable farmers use the River Seine to transport grain by barge.
However, the organisers of this year's summer Olympic Games want to use the river for water sports and therefore have made a request that farmers "delay their harvest" this year.
Now while some people may think that farmers are God, not even they can suspend the natural process of when a crop is ready to harvest!
It seems that bureaucratic stupidity is an international disease and when it comes to regulations and farming.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.