Wednesday, 25 August 2021 10:30

Wood for the trees?

Written by  The Hound

OPINION: The Hound wonders when the powers-that-be will take a serious look at how their infatuation with pleasing the UN and implementing crazy policies to mitigate (not reduce) the country's carbon footprint is doing severe damage to our economy.

Recent research by Beef+Lamb NZ reveals the disturbing scale of the loss of pasture-based farming land to forestry over the past few years, with some 36,824ha productive farming land lost to forestry in 2019 alone and that 700,000 stock units have disappeared over the past three years.

Much of this land has gone to carbon sinks, where huge carbon entities - such as airlines, power and petrol companies - are buying up swathes of NZ farmland and turning it into forests (which are never harvested) to offset their growing carbon output while they keep on polluting.

More like this

Dark ages

OPINION: Before we all let The Green Party have at it with their 'bold' emissions reduction plan, the Hound thought it wise to run the numbers through the old Casio.

Rhymes with?

OPINION: The Feds' latest banking survey shows that bankers are even less popular with farmers than they used to be, despite falling interest rates, and the report still paints a damning picture of rural lending.

Waste not

OPINION: Judith Collins, Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, has upset the more woke members of the science community by announcing a regulation change to narrow the scope of the $83.5 million/year Marsden Fund.

Middle finger

OPINION: Kainga Ora's decision to categorically rule out use of woollen carpets in social housing is a total slap in the face for struggling Kiwi sheep farmers.

Loud noises!

OPINION: One of the strongest arguments for Act’s Treaty Principles Bill is probably its opponents’ total inability to raise a calm, cogent retort to it, other than intimidation and shouting the other side into silence.

Featured

Farmer honoured with New Zealand Order of Merit

Hauraki Coromandel farmer Keith Trembath was recently awarded the title of Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in recognition of his contributions to public service, agriculture, and education.

RSE workers get immunised

Over 1,000 Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers in the Hawke’s Bay have now been immunised against measles.

National

Machinery & Products

Batten Buddy - cleverly simple

Stopping livestock from escaping their environment is a “must do” for any farmers or landowners and at times can seem…

U10 Pro Highland a step up

A few weeks after driving the CF MOTO U10 Pro ‘entry level’ model, we’ve had a chance to test the…

LC70 - A no-nonsense work horse

As most vehicle manufacturers are designing, producing and delivering machines with features that would take us into the next decade,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Dark ages

OPINION: Before we all let The Green Party have at it with their 'bold' emissions reduction plan, the Hound thought…

Rhymes with?

OPINION: The Feds' latest banking survey shows that bankers are even less popular with farmers than they used to be,…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter