Dirty Pool!
OPINION: President Trump's tariff wars have torpedoed the US grain belt's biggest market, China, sending many US family farms to the wall.
OPINION: The appendage swinging contest between the US and China continues, with China hitting back with a new rate of 125% on the US, up from the 84% announced earlier.
That apparently pushes the tariff on US pork and pork variety meat to an eye watering 172%.
The new soybean tariff is more than 150%.
This follows Trump’s partial backdown after markets went into freefall, pausing reciprocal tariffs on most countries for 90 days, but upping the ante on China with a tariff of 145%.
Your old mate reckons once tariffs get that high, the actual number becomes academic.
The US Farm Journal concurs: “Whether the tariffs are 50% or 100%, it really doesn’t matter. Either one shuts down trade. It hurts our cotton exports, our beef and our pork.”
A Local State of Emergency has been declared for the Waikato for a period of seven days as the region prepares for Cyclone Vaianu to hit the area.
Farmers will get an opportunity to hear about the latest developments in sheep genetics at the Sheep Breeder Forum this May.
Specialist horticulture and viticulture weather forecasters Metris says the incoming Cyclone Vaianu is likely to impact growers across the country.
A group of old Otago uni mates with a love of South Island back-country have gone the lengths of Waiau Toa Clarence from source to sea. Tim Fulton, who joined the group in the final fun to the river mouth, tells their story.
Operating with a completely different format from conventional tractors and combine harvesters, the NEXAT prime mover combines all steps of crop production in one modular carrier vehicle, from tillage, through seeding to harvesting.
Reports of severe weather forecast to move over the vast majority of New Zealand’s kiwifruit orchards this weekend will be very concerning for a significant number of growers.

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