Risky business
OPINION: In the same way that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, economists sometimes get it right.
OPINION: Your old mate well realises that politicians are slippery types.
However, he reckons the Government's decision to announce its final agricultural emissions policy just a couple of days before Christmas, when most media have knocked off for the year and people are busy readying themselves for the holidays, is one of the most cynical and gutless moves he's seen.
How cynical was it of Ag Minister Damien O'Connor and PM Jacinda Ardern to make possibly the biggest announcement to impact on agriculture in this country since the reforms of the 1980s and then bugger off on holiday or 6 weeks!
Perhaps, just like their government's equally cynical move to pass the deeply unpopular 3 waters legislation right on the eve of end-of-year, they hope people will forget about it.
Fat chance - especially with an election year in the offing!
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.