Be afraid
OPINION: Your old mate hears some of the recent uptick in farmer confidence has slipped since the political polls started leading a bit to the left, away from the current coalition of National, Act and NZ First.
However, the Hound reckons the wrong-headed government drive for 'net zero emissions' - using the blunt tool of pinus radiata - has created common ground for these two 'foes'.
F&G is concerned about plans to plant vast areas of conservation and other Crown land in permanent pine forests, in a "desperate attempt to meet New Zealand's net zero emissions 2050 goal".
The official Ministry for Primary Industries modelling indicates that 280,000 hectares of new pine trees could be planted on Crown land and 230,000 hectares of this would be permanent.
You know a tree planting scheme is bad if even professional tree huggers don't like it.
