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Complacency our biggest enemy — Editorial
This year's KPMG Agribusiness Agenda fires a timely shot over the bows of the NZ primary sector. The key word is "complacency", a word somewhat akin to "she'll be right". The report makes it clear that...
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Reduce winter nitrogen losses
Having enough nitrogen in farming systems is essential. But having too much, or not managing it wisely, can have marked effects on your farm's environment. Nitrogen plays an important role in...
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Mums appeal for support
In 2008 I made a life changing decision to move from my urbanised hometown of Southampton, UK, to the rolling hills of the Matamata countryside, to be a farmer's wife to my NZ born husband. Such a...
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Many questions over LIC proposal
Bigger is not always better, but it seems that in business the size of the prize sometimes obscures the cost of pursuit. Dairy farmers are now suffering the effect of Fonterra's volume strategy:...
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Time to retire?
Your old mate notes that the Greens latest policy – in its desire to 'clean up the country's rivers' – is to implement a wholesale ban on future dairy farm conversions. The policy would bring down a...
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1950's revisited
The Hound understands that the self-proclaimed meat industry saviour and friend to only those who agree with his world-view – John McCarthy has descended into anguish.. No less at the excellent work...
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Heads to roll?
The Hound wonders whether Fonterra’s failure to get its constitutional changes ratified by 75% of farmers at this month’s special meeting will have ramifications. Rumour has it that the $4 million man...
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Oink oink
The Hound has been lambasted by claims and counter-claims over the SFF/Shanghai Maling deal. One constant is the denials by the ‘anti’ brigade of any linkage between John ‘The Pom’ Shrimpton, the...
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Unfortunate
The Hound had to giggle at some of the crazy conspiracy theories going around when the Poms were going to the polls, last month, to vote on leaving the EU. Reports described Brexit pundits (supporters...
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Tyranny of the minority — Editorial
The Silver Fern Farms/Shanghai Maling joint venture proposal is getting nastier the longer it drags out. The drama is not helped by the company's often off-hand dismissal of some shareholders' concerns...
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Don’t panic
Your canine crusader sees that his good mates at the meat industry’s ‘Dad’s Army’ – MIE (the gift that keeps on giving) – have taken umbrage at the Hound’s June 7 column. The column was calling on them...
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Find the right GAP under the Food Act
The Food Act came into force on 1 March 2016, focussed on the production of food in New Zealand. The act requires a person who trades in food to ensure it is safe and suitable; it also requires...
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Abandoning a challenge is not my way
Federated Farmers Meat and Fibre chairman Rick Powdrell spoke at the Feds' annual conference last week. Here are excerpts from his speech. One thing in life never changes: the moment you overcome one...
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Say what?
A mate of the Hound reckons the cause of corporate doublespeak and all-round bullshittery has received another shot in the arm from Fonterra with its recent promotion of Judith Swales to the ridiculous...
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Dam good decision — Editorial
This month's decision by the Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) confirming its intention to invest in the Ruataniwha water storage scheme is a good one. HBRC's plan to invest $80 million follows the...
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Spin, spin, spin
This old mutt hears that Fonterra's revolving door for top communication executives exiting the company goes on spinning faster than the speed of light. No wonder they call them spin doctors! Latest to...
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Wool’s better
The Hound reckons recent research into polarfleece jackets shows how wool marketers should be promoting woollen products against their synthetic rivals – as environmentally and sustainably superior....
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What a surprise
Your canine crusader's long-held suspicions that the Greens are really just a bunch of watermelons (green on the outside but red in the middle) whose policy is dictated by dogma and not science has...
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Why weather forecasters make economists look good
The first six months of 2016 were the warmest start to a year on record in New Zealand. NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) explains that the warmer temperatures were due to a...
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The biggest yet
Rural contractors from around the country descended on the Bay of Islands in late June for this year's RCNZ annual conference. I was delighted with the record conference turnout of 153, given the...
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