BNZ and Pāmu Launch New Native Forest Revenue Model for New Zealand Landowners
Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) and Pāmu (Landcorp Farming Limited) have developed a new way for landowners to earn revenue from existing native forests.
OPINION: This old mutt reckons both government and officials are failing to see the wood for the trees in regard to the huge swathes of good farmland going into forestry - much of this to overseas-owned carbon sinks.
According to Newshub, from information under the Official Information Act, 25 times more land was converted into forestry last year than a decade ago.
It shows a rise in new forestry area from 695ha in 2013 to more than 18,000ha last year.
Beef+Lamb NZ says it is alarmed by this figure and while it is not against off-setting via commercial forestry, it argues that there needs to be some limits put on it.
Your old mate hopes the Government's 'ministerial inquiry' into forestry slash will lead to limits on land conversion, as it needs to answer for its policies incentivising forestry to earn carbon credits.
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson says his party – NZ First - isn’t opposed to the “trade element” of a free trade deal with India.
The managing director of a company seeking to build a solar farm in Canterbury says receiving fast-track approval is a “really positive outcome”.
Retiring MP and dairy farmer Mark Cameron is blasting the Green Party for proposing to ban the use of synthetic fertiliser and cutting cow numbers.
A huge reduction in ACC claims from on-farm accidents over the last five years is due to thousands of small, practical decisions being made in sheds, yards, paddocks and around kitchen tables across the country, says Safer Farms ambassador Lindy Nelson.
Wayne and Ange Moxham of Horowhenua have just been named as Fonterra's top organic performer for milksolids. As well as providing organic milk to Fonterra, the couple also sell Udderly Organic milk to more than 100 outlets in the region and are embarking on another exciting venture producing organic gelato. Reporter Peter Burke went along to see their farming operation.
Certainty and a clear understanding of the needs of rural communities is a critical outcome in the series of government reforms that are taking place at present.

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