Wednesday, 10 February 2021 09:46

Sage advice!

Written by The Hound

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: According to news reports, possibly the world’s biggest nerd – Microsoft founder Bill Gates – now owns the most farmland of anyone in the United States.

The tech mogul, who let’s face it, would have been mercilessly bullied at school, and the fourth richest person in the world with a net worth of US$121 billion, has built up a massive agriculture portfolio across the US.

He owns 108,853 hectares of land in Washington, California, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana.

His largest holdings include 27,952 hectares in Louisiana. Your old mate suggests, going by this, the old saying that “the meek shall inherit the earth” should have instead been “the geeks shall inherit the earth”!

More like this

True Reflection?

A fair question has been raised about how member-funded organisations should conduct themselves when taking a public position on any given issue.

Stuffed!

The canine crusader always has his nose in the air for more media maleficence, so was pointing as soon as he saw the Stuff headline: ‘Wellington residents respond to PM saying he doesn’t need his job!’.

Civil Circus!

OPINION: It really is getting harder to lampoon government bureaucrats when they do such a good job of it themselves.

Anyone in the primary sector will know about the clowns covering the countryside in the red tape we all have to wade through.

Spare a thought then for media outfit Stuff who were threatened with fines up to $200,000 by a snivelling civil servant from the MoH for illustrating a quiz question with a photo of part of the cover of a 45-year-old copy Playboy.

As Stuff notes, “It wasn’t the Playboy cover which caused offence. No, it was the back page which… featured an advert for a cigarette brand”.

As Regulations Minister David Seymour notes, “The real scandal here is, well, no wonder we’ve got problems in healthcare when they’re doing the Stuff quiz during work time.”

Ewe Zealand First

OPINION: After all the criticism that Winston Peters leveled at the India/NZ FTA, it seemed just a trifle ironic to the Hound that the first NZ politician to visit India after Prime Minister Modi's visit was a member of the Ewe Zealand First party.

'Doomsday' overkill

OPINION: In a memo, rich guy Bill Gates didn't become a climate change denier, but he did give the world a dose of common sense, saying we should redirect efforts away from the campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and instead focus on other ways to improve human lives and reduce suffering.

Featured

UK Politician Alistair Carmichael Praises "Positive Spirit" of NZ Farmers

A leading British farming politician says he's impressed with the positive attitude of New Zealand farmers that he met during his recent trip here.

Editorial: Punching Above Our Weight

OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.

Southern Dairy Hub Appoints Greg Delaney as Acting General Manager

The Southern Dairy Hub (SDH), which runs a demonstration farm for South Island farmers, has a new general manager.

Esther Guy-Meakin Appointed Chief Executive of the NZ Meat Board

Esther Guy-Meakin has been announced as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).

AHAP Progress Report Shows NZ Horticulture Building Real Momentum

According to a progress report on the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan (AHAP), New Zealand's horticulture sector is making real progress on the big issues facing growers.