ETS costs cut 66% for forest owners – McClay
Additional reductions to costs for forest owners in the Emissions Trading Scheme Registry (ETS) have been announced by the Government.
Forests planted for carbon credits are permanently locking up NZ’s landscapes, and could land us with more carbon costs, says the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE).
The new report, ‘Alt-F Reset: Examining the drivers of forestry in New Zealand’, says that radiata pine is really the only economical tree for carbon farming.
However, it could leave the Crown with future carbon liabilities if they’re damaged by pests, disease, fire or extreme weather events.
Even climate scientists are anti-pine, one saying “the PCE, Simon Upton, is uniquely qualified to provide impartial strategic guidance on New Zealand Forests.
We should be grateful for this as climate virtue signaling and perverse carbon incentives threaten to radically change our rural landscapes in a widespread and visually jarring fashion”.
The key takeaway from the PCE’s advice is ‘‘no to carbon forestry!’
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.
Technology and the use of artificial intelligence are increasingly part of life, both on the farm and off it.
Ashleigh Gordon and Leilani Lobb have been named as the two finalists for Dairy Women's Network's (DWN) 2026 Regional Leader of the Year Award.
Animal and Plant Health New Zealand (APHANZ) says the approval of a new fungicide seed treatment is a positive, however growers will be hoping the final approval is completed ahead of the spring season.
North Canterbury farmer Adam Williamson has been appointed DairyNZ's associate director for 2026-27.
Fonterra farmers are set for a multi-billion-dollar payout this week.

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