About
Guy Trafford
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Guy Trafford pulls together the trends from the recent survey on farmer sentiment, matches them with what farmers say about their own businesses, and overlays what they want from the political parties
16th Aug 23, 9:36am
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Guy Trafford pulls together the trends from the recent survey on farmer sentiment, matches them with what farmers say about their own businesses, and overlays what they want from the political parties
The future land use in Tairāwhiti/Gisborne and Wairoa is up for debate after a Ministerial Inquiry and the Government's Response. Guy Trafford looks at the state of play
10th Aug 23, 5:55pm
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The future land use in Tairāwhiti/Gisborne and Wairoa is up for debate after a Ministerial Inquiry and the Government's Response. Guy Trafford looks at the state of play
Westland Milk's ethical management award tainted by court-required association with Glorivale's dairy farm. WMP price dives. Impressive progress eliminating M. bovis
3rd Aug 23, 10:03am
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Westland Milk's ethical management award tainted by court-required association with Glorivale's dairy farm. WMP price dives. Impressive progress eliminating M. bovis
While we face an imminent El Niño, the longer term climate impacts are going to be much tougher on other global regions. When they come let's hope they are in a position to pay for our primary products, says Guy Trafford
31st Jul 23, 12:30pm
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While we face an imminent El Niño, the longer term climate impacts are going to be much tougher on other global regions. When they come let's hope they are in a position to pay for our primary products, says Guy Trafford
Big money invested into picking a new dairy 'winner' hasn't turned out well for investors and participants in the goat milking industry, reports Guy Trafford
29th Jul 23, 9:00am
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Big money invested into picking a new dairy 'winner' hasn't turned out well for investors and participants in the goat milking industry, reports Guy Trafford
Guy Trafford isn't impressed with the National Party's lurch into a hunting & fishing policy that reverts to ideas first floated more than a decade ago. Farmers should be very wary, he says
25th Jul 23, 4:35pm
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Guy Trafford isn't impressed with the National Party's lurch into a hunting & fishing policy that reverts to ideas first floated more than a decade ago. Farmers should be very wary, he says
Previous discussions about the impact of climate change focused on sea levels and drought. Now the isolation threat to provinces like Northland, Gisborne, Coromandel and Marlborough are perhaps more challenging
22nd Jul 23, 10:14am
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Previous discussions about the impact of climate change focused on sea levels and drought. Now the isolation threat to provinces like Northland, Gisborne, Coromandel and Marlborough are perhaps more challenging
Guy Trafford notes we have been blessed with with an adequate fresh water resource, one that will be even more important in a climate-changed future
17th Jul 23, 11:28am
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Guy Trafford notes we have been blessed with with an adequate fresh water resource, one that will be even more important in a climate-changed future
Guy Trafford has been down on the farm looking at some of the new technologies available - and is impressed
11th Jul 23, 3:10pm
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Guy Trafford has been down on the farm looking at some of the new technologies available - and is impressed
Guy Trafford says it is hard to find positives in recent livestock pricing and previous year's seasonal increases are absent this year, just as farmers have to bear costs rising more than twice the CPI rate
5th Jul 23, 7:10pm
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Guy Trafford says it is hard to find positives in recent livestock pricing and previous year's seasonal increases are absent this year, just as farmers have to bear costs rising more than twice the CPI rate
Guy Trafford has a look at where NZ's five main trading partners are at with their agriculture sector's emissions
29th Jun 23, 6:53am
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Guy Trafford has a look at where NZ's five main trading partners are at with their agriculture sector's emissions
The latest survey of opinion and focus in the agribusiness sector throws up some significant differences between younger managers, older governors, and the farmers in the industry they lead
22nd Jun 23, 10:55am
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The latest survey of opinion and focus in the agribusiness sector throws up some significant differences between younger managers, older governors, and the farmers in the industry they lead
A major rethink in underway about how the price of carbon will be set to discourage emissions. Consultation has started on revisions that will affect farmers in different ways to what was in place, arguably even more intrusively
20th Jun 23, 9:54am
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A major rethink in underway about how the price of carbon will be set to discourage emissions. Consultation has started on revisions that will affect farmers in different ways to what was in place, arguably even more intrusively
El Niño is coming and given higher background temperatures, Guy Trafford assesses what that will mean for farm management, preparation and adaption
19th Jun 23, 10:20am
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El Niño is coming and given higher background temperatures, Guy Trafford assesses what that will mean for farm management, preparation and adaption
Guy Trafford finds National's opportunistic climate policy flip-flops extraordinarily disappointing when farmers need to champion the science to remain credible and competitive
15th Jun 23, 10:13am
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Guy Trafford finds National's opportunistic climate policy flip-flops extraordinarily disappointing when farmers need to champion the science to remain credible and competitive
Guy Trafford reviews the ups and downs at the a2 milk processor Synlait, tracking mistakes and misdirections that oddly mirror Fonterra
8th Jun 23, 9:57am
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Guy Trafford reviews the ups and downs at the a2 milk processor Synlait, tracking mistakes and misdirections that oddly mirror Fonterra
Guy Trafford finds the case proven that our rural sector lags in productivity compared to two highly productive countries we should be benchmarking ourselves against
1st Jun 23, 1:18pm
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Guy Trafford finds the case proven that our rural sector lags in productivity compared to two highly productive countries we should be benchmarking ourselves against
Without China firing, dairy and meat prices face an uncertain future just when on-farm costs are rising. In other key markets, farmers are culling animals as break-even levels are breached. Guy Trafford assesses what this means for us
27th May 23, 10:17am
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Without China firing, dairy and meat prices face an uncertain future just when on-farm costs are rising. In other key markets, farmers are culling animals as break-even levels are breached. Guy Trafford assesses what this means for us
Guy Trafford is watching the change from La Niña to El Niño looking for risks, and pondering the opportunities that will come from longer term changes
24th May 23, 5:01pm
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Guy Trafford is watching the change from La Niña to El Niño looking for risks, and pondering the opportunities that will come from longer term changes
Guy Trafford reviews the 2023 Budget from a rural perspective and finds a little more in it for rural communities than appears at first glance
19th May 23, 8:55am
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Guy Trafford reviews the 2023 Budget from a rural perspective and finds a little more in it for rural communities than appears at first glance
Guy Trafford reviews the ministerial inquiry into forestry slash suggesting it includes recognition of a time when forestry does not hold as much clout over the East Coast
16th May 23, 10:29am
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Guy Trafford reviews the ministerial inquiry into forestry slash suggesting it includes recognition of a time when forestry does not hold as much clout over the East Coast
New Zealand the outlier allowing fossil fuel emitters to offset their pollution by converting food production to exotic forestry. It's a policy that is driving farm leaders into politics and hardening attitudes
11th May 23, 5:33pm
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New Zealand the outlier allowing fossil fuel emitters to offset their pollution by converting food production to exotic forestry. It's a policy that is driving farm leaders into politics and hardening attitudes
Guy Trafford sees new requirements coming for pain relief for lamb tailing. He is also seeing signs that dairy milk production is heading for lower levels
10th May 23, 12:25pm
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Guy Trafford sees new requirements coming for pain relief for lamb tailing. He is also seeing signs that dairy milk production is heading for lower levels
Guy Trafford says farmers should be welcoming the shift in focus to get the transport sector to reduce their emissions (as the rural sector has already done). Pity about the lack of options for farmers
7th May 23, 7:29pm
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Guy Trafford says farmers should be welcoming the shift in focus to get the transport sector to reduce their emissions (as the rural sector has already done). Pity about the lack of options for farmers
Productivity improvements in the rural sector are being held back by outdated restrictions and regulations that are no longer relevant. And that is a conclusion of Wellington officials
3rd May 23, 6:59pm
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Productivity improvements in the rural sector are being held back by outdated restrictions and regulations that are no longer relevant. And that is a conclusion of Wellington officials