No reason to demonise farming
OPINION: New Zealand has said it is going to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by ‘a lot’ and ‘in a short time’. One of those gases is methane. Our biggest producer of methane is livestock farming.
OPINION: This old mutt notes that the latest figures from Stats NZ show that in the quarter ending December 2022, the country’s ag sector decreased its emissions by 1.3% (132 kilotonnes).
All this was achieved without the implementation of an emissions levy or the introduction of the much criticised and deeply unpopular He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) scheme some industry leaders and the Government want to foist on the sector.
Since 2014, NZ’s ag sector has actually reduced its methane output by 7% and nitrous oxide by 1.5%.
However, despite these great achievements, not a word of praise for the sector efforts has come from the likes of the Government, the Green Party or multi-national, non-taxpaying lobby group Greenpeace.
In fact, the lack of recognition by such regular vocal critics of the ag sector has been deafening. No surprise there!
Chinese textile company Saibosi has partnered with Wools of New Zealand to put the 'farm to floor' story of New Zealand wool rugs on screen for its customers.
Showcasing the huge range of new technologies and science that is now available was one of the highlights at last week's National Fieldays.
Coby Warmington, 29, a farm manager at Waima Topu Beef near Hokianga was named at the winner of the 2025 Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer Award for sheep and beef.
Northlanders scooped the pool at this year's prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy Awards - winning both the main competition and the young Maori farmer award.
Red meat farmers are urging the Government to act on the growing number of whole sheep and beef farm sales for conversion to forestry, particularly carbon farming.
The days of rising on-farm inflation and subdued farmgate prices are coming to an end for farmers, helping lift confidence.
OPINION: Missed out on a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours, again?
OPINION: The antipathy the previous government had for farmers no longer holds court on the Beehive’s 9th floor, but it’s…