Idea of killing cows to curtail methane emissions 'crazy'
Visiting US climate change expert Dr Will Happer says the idea of reducing cow numbers to greatly reduce methane emissions is crazy.
OPINION: The Hound reckons a big problem with focusing too much on the wrong goal - reducing livestock emissions at the expanse of food production, in this case - is that the Government starts throwing taxpayer coin at increasingly ridiculous ideas.
Case in point, the 'she-wee' for cows.
Developed by a Canterbury start-up, the small, lightweight device apparently attaches to the blunt end of the cow and spreads its urine so it can be used as a fertiliser - allowing nitrogen to be better absorbed by pasture.
A nice media opportunity for Ministers Willis and Reti, but this mutt doubts that fitting mobile shower heads to 6.8 million cows is going to be practical or shift the needle on emissions.
And yet $1.2 million has gone into this project via the government-industry partnership.
New Zealand exports to the European Union have surged by $3 billion in two years under the New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement.
A new joint investment of $1.2 million aims to accelerate farmer uptake of low-methane sheep genetics, one of the few emissions reduction tools available to New Zealand farmers.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has issued a stark warning about the global implications of the ongoing Gulf crisis.
Fonterra has announced interim changes to the leadership of its Global Ingredients business.
New Zealand agritech company Halter has announced unveiled a new direct-to-satellite technology solution for its smart collars for beef cattle, unlocking virtual fencing for some of the country's most remote farming regions.
Dairy Women's Network (DWN) has announced a new limited edition DWN Monopoly NZ Dairy Farming Edition, created to celebrate the people, places and seasons.