A hungry world
OPINION: The Hound reckons the argument run by the ‘agribusiness elite’ that the market will punish our exports if we don’t fall into line with spurious targets like the Paris Accord doesn’t pass the sniff test.
OPINION: Critics of NZ’s commitment to the Paris Accord, such as Groundswell and others, continue to push for an exemption for ag, arguing that the threat of trade retaliation is more hypothetical than real.
“In short, the idea of widespread trade sanctions or the dismantling of the deal is highly unlikely,” says Groundswell.
"People buy our products… because we efficiently produce high quality food at competitive prices. Our trade, even our trade with the EU, is not dependent on the Paris Agreement."
The Hound reckons that in the new world order, they might be right. Bill Gates, once a major force in climate advocacy, has shut down the policy and advocacy office of his nonprofit, Breakthrough Energy, laying off dozens of employees, now that Trump and co. plan to pull grants to climate nonprofits.
The Government is set to announce two new acts to replace the contentious Resource Management Act (RMA) with the Prime Minister hinting that consents required by farmers could reduce by 46%.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change would be “a really dumb move”.
The University of Waikato has broken ground on its new medical school building.
Undoubtedly the doyen of rural culture, always with a wry smile, our favourite ginger ninja, Te Radar, in conjunction with his wife Ruth Spencer, has recently released an enchanting, yet educational read centred around rural New Zealand in one hundred objects.
Farmers are being urged to keep on top of measures to control Cysticerus ovis - or sheep measles - following a spike in infection rates.
The avocado industry is facing an extremely challenging season with all parts of the supply chain, especially growers, being warned to prepare for any eventuality.