17th Jun 21, 4:53pm
Guy Trafford takes his livestock risk management for nitrate poisoning and wonders how these risks apply to humans - and finds salad eaters need to moderate their enthusiasm
Guy Trafford takes his livestock risk management for nitrate poisoning and wonders how these risks apply to humans - and finds salad eaters need to moderate their enthusiasm
14th Jun 21, 8:16am
Guy Trafford sees strong demand pressures from China for our redmeat products, threatening to upend the current balanced set of markets we supply
Guy Trafford sees strong demand pressures from China for our redmeat products, threatening to upend the current balanced set of markets we supply
10th Jun 21, 11:05am
Guy Trafford reviews what the Climate Change Commission's final report recommends for the rural sector. He sees an opportunity to lead change and restoration
Guy Trafford reviews what the Climate Change Commission's final report recommends for the rural sector. He sees an opportunity to lead change and restoration
3rd Jun 21, 10:50am
Flood affected dairy farmers are not only facing years of reconstruction, but the region-wide loss of winter feed reserves. These are the farmers producing more milk with fewer cows and the world's lowest emissions
Flood affected dairy farmers are not only facing years of reconstruction, but the region-wide loss of winter feed reserves. These are the farmers producing more milk with fewer cows and the world's lowest emissions
31st May 21, 9:47am
Guy Trafford notes that while recent rains flush rivers, they also fill aquifers. But the time it takes to clear nitrates is vastly different between each system. And that sets up special risks for drinking water supplies
Guy Trafford notes that while recent rains flush rivers, they also fill aquifers. But the time it takes to clear nitrates is vastly different between each system. And that sets up special risks for drinking water supplies
27th May 21, 11:54am
Guy Trafford says unless the Government intends all of us to become beneficiaries its needs to do more than pay scant lip service to New Zealand’s future and focus on improving productivity
Guy Trafford says unless the Government intends all of us to become beneficiaries its needs to do more than pay scant lip service to New Zealand’s future and focus on improving productivity
24th May 21, 11:06am
Guy Trafford sees some good early signs for upcoming livestock and dairy season prices. He sees signs of flock and herd rebuilding. And he notes a growing range of skills development programmes
Guy Trafford sees some good early signs for upcoming livestock and dairy season prices. He sees signs of flock and herd rebuilding. And he notes a growing range of skills development programmes
21st May 21, 11:26am
Guy Trafford sees a Budget low on ambition or transformation. He wonders if we will ever get the impetus to make the serious changes needed. This Government isn't engaging in the goals it set for everyone else
Guy Trafford sees a Budget low on ambition or transformation. He wonders if we will ever get the impetus to make the serious changes needed. This Government isn't engaging in the goals it set for everyone else
18th May 21, 10:05am
Farmers will be focusing on the Budget, but the Budget may not focus on rural priorities. However the Government will be relying on rural export revenues to pay for its urban 'catching up' priorities
Farmers will be focusing on the Budget, but the Budget may not focus on rural priorities. However the Government will be relying on rural export revenues to pay for its urban 'catching up' priorities
12th May 21, 4:25pm
Guy Trafford traces changing consumer emotions around any chemical with a three-letter code, risking the useful for environmental remediation on the altar of the [impossible] quick-fix obsession
Guy Trafford traces changing consumer emotions around any chemical with a three-letter code, risking the useful for environmental remediation on the altar of the [impossible] quick-fix obsession
11th May 21, 10:10am
Guy Trafford finds New Zealand's nuanced approach to trade with China has far less long-term risk than that of Australia, even if the short-term favours our cousins
Guy Trafford finds New Zealand's nuanced approach to trade with China has far less long-term risk than that of Australia, even if the short-term favours our cousins
8th May 21, 9:37am
Without an overall umbrella system, New Zealand's varying sector claims to producing food in an environmental sustainable way lacks credibility, new research shows. And no progress to remedying that flaw
Without an overall umbrella system, New Zealand's varying sector claims to producing food in an environmental sustainable way lacks credibility, new research shows. And no progress to remedying that flaw
3rd May 21, 10:00am
Guy Trafford watches the issues farms have to deal with where the property has a road frontage. He also sees a loss of Canterbury's rural trees, much of it because Councils cashed up - and then reneged on replanting promises
Guy Trafford watches the issues farms have to deal with where the property has a road frontage. He also sees a loss of Canterbury's rural trees, much of it because Councils cashed up - and then reneged on replanting promises
28th Apr 21, 2:29pm
Guy Trafford tracks the national GHG net emissions levels, setting the agriculture trajectory, especially compared to transport. There is a lot to do, and not just on the farm, to reach the 2030 goal
Guy Trafford tracks the national GHG net emissions levels, setting the agriculture trajectory, especially compared to transport. There is a lot to do, and not just on the farm, to reach the 2030 goal
21st Apr 21, 9:50am
Guy Trafford finds that the good work the MoE/StatsNZ does on land use is being used by others to bolster unsubstantiated biases, especially around the impact of lifestyle blocks
Guy Trafford finds that the good work the MoE/StatsNZ does on land use is being used by others to bolster unsubstantiated biases, especially around the impact of lifestyle blocks
19th Apr 21, 9:07am
Guy Trafford despairs at the quailty of the 'information' Immigration NZ works with, suspecting it is a department full of bureaucrats that either don't know NZ's regional geography, or ignore the obvious
Guy Trafford despairs at the quailty of the 'information' Immigration NZ works with, suspecting it is a department full of bureaucrats that either don't know NZ's regional geography, or ignore the obvious
16th Apr 21, 9:31am
Guy Trafford notes that while farmers have achieved substantial productivity gains, the country as a whole hasn't as some Government policies and core SOEs undermine private sector improvements
Guy Trafford notes that while farmers have achieved substantial productivity gains, the country as a whole hasn't as some Government policies and core SOEs undermine private sector improvements
14th Apr 21, 8:04pm
Guy Trafford tries to make sense of the puzzle surrounding the global sheep flock, declining in areas we understand, but rising elsewhere
Guy Trafford tries to make sense of the puzzle surrounding the global sheep flock, declining in areas we understand, but rising elsewhere
10th Apr 21, 6:51pm
Guy Trafford finds that no matter how the world's population tracks in future, it will still be large and the demand for food will always be strong, including for the foods NZ exports
Guy Trafford finds that no matter how the world's population tracks in future, it will still be large and the demand for food will always be strong, including for the foods NZ exports
8th Apr 21, 9:14am
Guy Trafford struggles with the inconsistent reasons for special restrictions on some religious holidays. He also reviews the latest dairy prices, and notes Synlait Milk's unique issues with supplying A2 Milk
Guy Trafford struggles with the inconsistent reasons for special restrictions on some religious holidays. He also reviews the latest dairy prices, and notes Synlait Milk's unique issues with supplying A2 Milk
3rd Apr 21, 9:36am
Guy Trafford points out that while we may have been safe during the pandemic, we are now underperforming economically and vulnerable to the economic nationalism the pandemic has spawned
Guy Trafford points out that while we may have been safe during the pandemic, we are now underperforming economically and vulnerable to the economic nationalism the pandemic has spawned
29th Mar 21, 11:00am
Firm winter lamb contracts underpin a positive outlook for the sheep sector, bolstered by coming autumn rains. Freight subsidies help in keeping product in front of offshore consumers
Firm winter lamb contracts underpin a positive outlook for the sheep sector, bolstered by coming autumn rains. Freight subsidies help in keeping product in front of offshore consumers
26th Mar 21, 1:46pm
Guy Trafford finds that huge rates increases for 2021/22 and further out are coming, far in excess of of the large rises we have already had. Farmers are asking, what happened to the $100+ mln previously taken?
Guy Trafford finds that huge rates increases for 2021/22 and further out are coming, far in excess of of the large rises we have already had. Farmers are asking, what happened to the $100+ mln previously taken?
22nd Mar 21, 10:04am
Guy Trafford notes the hardline messages from the Government for climate action by farmers, and the soft excuses for Auckland Transport, their film crew friends and other mates, will likely break the feeling farmers had 'we are all in this together'
Guy Trafford notes the hardline messages from the Government for climate action by farmers, and the soft excuses for Auckland Transport, their film crew friends and other mates, will likely break the feeling farmers had 'we are all in this together'
18th Mar 21, 12:00pm
Guy Trafford raises an eyebrow over how conflicted farmers are on Fonterra's capital structure. He is watching for carbon price gaming. And he is also watching insects being added to animal food
Guy Trafford raises an eyebrow over how conflicted farmers are on Fonterra's capital structure. He is watching for carbon price gaming. And he is also watching insects being added to animal food
