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1 week ago | 
interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves
For years now, I have been highlighting the importance of farming in this country, while also sounding the alarm on permanent exotic forestry being planted solely for carbon farming at the expense of food production and rural communities. It is no secret that large emitting corporations are driving this agenda, using the ability to offset their emissions rather than confronting their own activities.
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4 weeks ago | 
interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves
For too long, methane has been cast as the climate villain, and agriculture, particularly livestock farming has been caught in the crossfire. But according to Frank Mitloehner, Professor and Director of the Clear Center at the University of California, Davis, we’ve been measuring and misunderstanding methane all wrong. And it’s time we changed that. “Methane is a unique gas,” Mitloehner explained in a recent interview.
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1 month ago | 
interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves
Understanding China’s agricultural landscape isn’t just a strategic curiosity for New Zealand’s farmers and exporters, it’s a necessity. With over half the world’s pigs, the largest aquaculture sector, and a booming demand for quality animal protein, China is not just a market, it’s a driver of global agriculture. And for a country like ours, where exports underpin the rural economy, keeping an eye on how Chinese consumers think, eat and spend has never been more important.
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1 month ago | 
interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves
A couple of years ago, I spoke with Tom O’Sullivan, a farmer and passionate advocate for wool who was then chair of Campaign for Wool. At the time, the mood in the strong wool industry was bleak. Prices had hit rock bottom, synthetic fibres were flooding the market, and for many farmers, shearing costs outweighed the value of the fleece. Tom spoke candidly - about frustration, generational loss, and the heartbreak of watching a once-proud New Zealand export become almost worthless.
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2 months ago | 
interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves
The Government’s recent announcement on changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) represents a significant shift in how farmland can be converted to exotic forestry. These changes, set to take effect in October 2025, aim to curb the widespread conversion of productive farmland into exotic plantations while still allowing for sustainable afforestation.
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Mar 7, 2025 | 
interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves
The role of science in shaping the future of New Zealand’s agricultural sector cannot be overstated, and the Whenua Haumanu programme is at the forefront of this endeavour. As the country’s most comprehensive study into the effects of contemporary and regenerative pastoral practices, this initiative, led by Massey University - brings together universities, Crown Research Institutes, and industry partners to examine the viability of regenerative agriculture in a New Zealand context.
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Feb 14, 2025 | 
interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves
Regenerative agriculture is gaining interest in New Zealand, and at the forefront of this shift is the Whenua Haumanu Programme. A partnership between Massey University and the Ministry for Primary Industries through the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund, it is the most comprehensive programme of its kind in the country. This week, two Massey University students, Rukshagni Sutharsan and Varthani Susruthan, provided insight into their research and experiences within the programme.
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Jan 24, 2025 | 
interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves
Rebekah Wood’s journey into agricultural research was not one she had planned. Growing up in the middle of town in Taupō, she had little connection to farming beyond occasional visits to extended family’s farms. Initially, she set her sights on veterinary science at Massey University, but when that path didn’t work out, she turned to agricultural science. What began as an alternative quickly became a passion.
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Jan 17, 2025 | 
interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves
Farming and environmental stewardship are often viewed as opposing forces, but the work of researchers and farmers in New Zealand highlights the harmonious relationship that can exist between these two vital spheres. Danny Donaghy, Deputy Head of School for Agriculture and Environment at Massey University, provides an inspiring example of this partnership through the Whenua Haumanu Program.
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Nov 1, 2024 | 
interest.co.nz | Angus Kebbell |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves
The recent insights from Kate Acland, chairperson of Beef+Lamb and a farmer herself, into the Orme & Associates report on land use change highlight the urgency of the issue New Zealand is facing with farmland increasingly being converted into forestry for carbon credits. This shift, as she emphasises, is not merely a statistic but a real and accelerating trend impacting rural communities, food production, and New Zealand’s agricultural legacy.
