Environment
Ignoring science – not worth the risk
Sri Lanka went organic, and that, coupled with other bad policy decisions, saw the country go into bankruptcy in 2022. Soil scientist Dr Jacqueline Rowarth says we can learn from Sri Lanka’s mistakes.
Over it: Gisborne’s big wet
The rain continues to fall in the Gisborne region and Louise Savage is just one of many who’s had enough.
Solar leasing: Making money while the sun shines
Farmers are linking with solar power companies to cash in on the demand for energy. By Delwyn Dickey.
Cleaning up after Gabrielle
Country-Wide writers talk to farmers in the path of Cyclone Gabrielle who are still struggling to get stock out and fix fences.
By Claire Ashton
Opportunities from disaster
Peter Andrew is no stranger to cyclones but says Gabrielle showed the progress we’ve made in some areas and has highlighted ways to do things better.
The power of nature
Peter Arthur writes we can learn from previous weather events and has ideas for land use after the flood.
New regs for winter grazing
James Hoban says farmers shouldn’t ignore the new winter grazing rules even though they mean more work – on farm and on paper – but he does wonder how successful the new rules will be.
Science and the critique
Jacqueline Rowarth responds to the Minister of Agriculture's assertion that scientists' criticism of regenerative agriculture is "just misinformation."
Planting for stock food and shelter
Most New Zealand farms are very efficient grass factories, some are treeless, grass deserts, but all could be made slightly more productive by planting some fodder trees, Peter Arthur writes.
Tools rather than rules
A project in Southland is mapping soils and landscapes to provide leaching and emissions data to help farmers come up with plans to meet their own and government-sanctioned environmental targets.
By Lynda Gray.