About
Guy Trafford
Latest articles
'Climate change is coming and so is government regulation and consumer demand for farmers and growers to produce more food in a transparent, socially and environmentally responsible way'
3rd Sep 22, 10:27am
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'Climate change is coming and so is government regulation and consumer demand for farmers and growers to produce more food in a transparent, socially and environmentally responsible way'
Guy Trafford wishes any Government would trust voters with a longer term vision executed with open transparency. He suspects voters would respect such an approach, rather than them ramming through changes within their 3 year cycle
30th Aug 22, 11:44am
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Guy Trafford wishes any Government would trust voters with a longer term vision executed with open transparency. He suspects voters would respect such an approach, rather than them ramming through changes within their 3 year cycle
Guy Trafford is somewhat surprised at the Fonterra payout cut given the wide range that is being reduced from. He also seems more tolerant of excess rain than any drought
27th Aug 22, 10:36am
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Guy Trafford is somewhat surprised at the Fonterra payout cut given the wide range that is being reduced from. He also seems more tolerant of excess rain than any drought
Livestock prices are high. Guy Trafford explores the role the value of our currency plays
25th Aug 22, 10:35am
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Livestock prices are high. Guy Trafford explores the role the value of our currency plays
Guy Trafford traces falling product prices, stunted customer demand, regulatory twisting of land use, all working to lower food production. Pasture-based livestock farming faces new uncertainties all of a sudden
18th Aug 22, 11:40am
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Guy Trafford traces falling product prices, stunted customer demand, regulatory twisting of land use, all working to lower food production. Pasture-based livestock farming faces new uncertainties all of a sudden
Guy Trafford sees a lazy farming minority claiming their views aren't being heard, because they can't win with arguments in the various democratic forums available
16th Aug 22, 10:32am
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Guy Trafford sees a lazy farming minority claiming their views aren't being heard, because they can't win with arguments in the various democratic forums available
Guy Trafford says if urban NZ wants the lifestyle that export earnings from farming generates but doesn't want the cows that generate it, they are going to have to pay to get what they think they want
12th Aug 22, 7:20am
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Guy Trafford says if urban NZ wants the lifestyle that export earnings from farming generates but doesn't want the cows that generate it, they are going to have to pay to get what they think they want
If society wants lower impacts from livestock on private land, will they achieve it by paying farmers for their loss, or regulate it because they have power to impose costs on landowners?
9th Aug 22, 10:11am
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If society wants lower impacts from livestock on private land, will they achieve it by paying farmers for their loss, or regulate it because they have power to impose costs on landowners?
As farmers look ahead, they are leaking confidence as pressures mount from all directions
4th Aug 22, 11:31am
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As farmers look ahead, they are leaking confidence as pressures mount from all directions
Guy Trafford reports on renewed interest in DCD as an effective and benign way to mitigate the impact of excessive nitrogen in farming environments
4th Aug 22, 8:24am
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Guy Trafford reports on renewed interest in DCD as an effective and benign way to mitigate the impact of excessive nitrogen in farming environments
Waning demand from China is behind the extended fall in SMP and WMP prices at the latest dairy auction, says Guy Trafford
20th Jul 22, 10:16am
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Waning demand from China is behind the extended fall in SMP and WMP prices at the latest dairy auction, says Guy Trafford
It may be winter here, but Guy Trafford can't help but notice Northern Hemisphere heat waves and he wonders what our summer may have in store
20th Jul 22, 9:31am
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It may be winter here, but Guy Trafford can't help but notice Northern Hemisphere heat waves and he wonders what our summer may have in store
Guy Trafford looks at the role wheat plays in global food security and finds it hasn't been a profitable activity for most farmers for some time. Subsidies keep the industry going in many countries. The volumes available for the export trade are limited
16th Jul 22, 10:06am
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Guy Trafford looks at the role wheat plays in global food security and finds it hasn't been a profitable activity for most farmers for some time. Subsidies keep the industry going in many countries. The volumes available for the export trade are limited
New Zealand misses out on any 'innovation awards' at Global Dairy Congress, as Chinese companies scoop the pool. NZ Govt. funds rich-lister's equity projects. Synlait's payout matches Fonterra
12th Jul 22, 9:53am
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New Zealand misses out on any 'innovation awards' at Global Dairy Congress, as Chinese companies scoop the pool. NZ Govt. funds rich-lister's equity projects. Synlait's payout matches Fonterra
Guy Trafford reviews the NZ-EU free trade deal and finds ... not much. Certainly little to benefit NZ, and the EU conceding nothing. He worries it may set a precedent of failure in other FTA negotiations
6th Jul 22, 9:55am
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Guy Trafford reviews the NZ-EU free trade deal and finds ... not much. Certainly little to benefit NZ, and the EU conceding nothing. He worries it may set a precedent of failure in other FTA negotiations
The regulatory pressures on high-standard local pork production will likely cause more pork to imported from low standard sources - which ironically includes the EU. The net result will be we will eat cheap pork produced in worse conditions
1st Jul 22, 9:53am
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The regulatory pressures on high-standard local pork production will likely cause more pork to imported from low standard sources - which ironically includes the EU. The net result will be we will eat cheap pork produced in worse conditions
Guy Trafford reviews the 156 page official June update of the outlook for the primary sector, and finds an optimistic view. A lot still depends on Chinese demand but sector and market diversification is happening
29th Jun 22, 10:21am
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Guy Trafford reviews the 156 page official June update of the outlook for the primary sector, and finds an optimistic view. A lot still depends on Chinese demand but sector and market diversification is happening
Guy Trafford wonders how successful the Prime Minister's trade mission to the EU will be overcoming two-faced European positions on provenance and tariffs
24th Jun 22, 10:41am
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Guy Trafford wonders how successful the Prime Minister's trade mission to the EU will be overcoming two-faced European positions on provenance and tariffs
Guy Trafford reports on a land-use tussle in the Canterbury Kaituna Valley involving a proposed feedlot upstream from the already polluted Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere
21st Jun 22, 3:38pm
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Guy Trafford reports on a land-use tussle in the Canterbury Kaituna Valley involving a proposed feedlot upstream from the already polluted Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere
Guy Trafford's gritty review of the HWEN proposals to Parliament finds while them broadly aligned with the ETS in its intent, but there are some distinct differences mainly around sequestration and pricing. These favour farming over most other sectors
16th Jun 22, 11:11am
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Guy Trafford's gritty review of the HWEN proposals to Parliament finds while them broadly aligned with the ETS in its intent, but there are some distinct differences mainly around sequestration and pricing. These favour farming over most other sectors
Hard on the heels of a positive dairy auction result, the recommendations of the Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership (HWEN) have been sent to the Government, backed up by overwhelming farmer support
8th Jun 22, 11:24am
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Hard on the heels of a positive dairy auction result, the recommendations of the Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership (HWEN) have been sent to the Government, backed up by overwhelming farmer support
Guy Trafford looks at the state of current attitudes to genetic modification of the food chain. With clear parallels to the recent vax/anti-vax debate, and evidence accumulating since the 1990's bans, change may get new impetus
8th Jun 22, 10:02am
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Guy Trafford looks at the state of current attitudes to genetic modification of the food chain. With clear parallels to the recent vax/anti-vax debate, and evidence accumulating since the 1990's bans, change may get new impetus
Guy Trafford takes a critical looks at Mike Joy's latest attack on the impact of dairying on the Canterbury Plains' groundwater resource - and finds it largely proven
4th Jun 22, 11:00am
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Guy Trafford takes a critical looks at Mike Joy's latest attack on the impact of dairying on the Canterbury Plains' groundwater resource - and finds it largely proven
Guy Trafford looks at how the final farmgate milk payout price evolves from the first pre-season estimates. He also tries to make sense of falling lifestyle block sales volumes even though prices are holding
28th May 22, 11:17am
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Guy Trafford looks at how the final farmgate milk payout price evolves from the first pre-season estimates. He also tries to make sense of falling lifestyle block sales volumes even though prices are holding
Guy Trafford sees important lessons to be learned here from the way the Aussie election played out, hardening attitudes to farming's 'slow' progress dealing with greenhouse gas emissions
25th May 22, 10:06am
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Guy Trafford sees important lessons to be learned here from the way the Aussie election played out, hardening attitudes to farming's 'slow' progress dealing with greenhouse gas emissions