Risky business
OPINION: In the same way that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, economists sometimes get it right.
OPINION: While the Government’s Fast Track bill is copping it from all the usual suspects – opposition parties, greenies, unions and various other ‘interested parties’ who cream it in fees by forcing development through endless ‘consultation’ – your old mate reckons progress on key elements like housing, infrastructure, mining & quarrying, and aquaculture & farming are long overdue and critical in stopping the rot in little old Enzed.
However, it’s a tad disappointing to see that, of the 149 projects on their Fast Track priority list, only seven were for ‘aquaculture & farming’ and all of those were for aquaculture.
The 17 or so wind and solar ‘farms’ don’t really count.
Sure, all industries, and therefore the country, will benefit from better roads, rail and port facilities, but it’d be nice to see some ag projects included on that list.
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.