About
Guy Trafford
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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
31st May 21, 9:47am
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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 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
27th May 21, 11:54am
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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 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
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 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
21st May 21, 11:26am
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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
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
18th May 21, 10:05am
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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
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
12th May 21, 4:25pm
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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 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
11th May 21, 10:10am
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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
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
8th May 21, 9:37am
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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
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
3rd May 21, 10:00am
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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 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
28th Apr 21, 2:29pm
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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 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
21st Apr 21, 9:50am
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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 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
19th Apr 21, 9:07am
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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 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
16th Apr 21, 9:31am
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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 tries to make sense of the puzzle surrounding the global sheep flock, declining in areas we understand, but rising elsewhere
14th Apr 21, 8:04pm
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Guy Trafford tries to make sense of the puzzle surrounding the global sheep flock, declining in areas we understand, but rising elsewhere
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
10th Apr 21, 6:51pm
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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 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
8th Apr 21, 9:14am
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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 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
3rd Apr 21, 9:36am
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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
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
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
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?
26th Mar 21, 1:46pm
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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 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'
22nd Mar 21, 10:04am
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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 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
18th Mar 21, 12:00pm
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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 reviews the big power competition, and how NZ positions itself after the core rivalry shifts from amateur name-calling to a real and serious geopolitical tension, where trade can be a collateral sacrifice
16th Mar 21, 9:48am
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Guy Trafford reviews the big power competition, and how NZ positions itself after the core rivalry shifts from amateur name-calling to a real and serious geopolitical tension, where trade can be a collateral sacrifice
Guy Trafford looks at the global trends for beef production, noting New Zealand is a minor producer with a world-leading minimal environmental impact, while the second largest is expanding fast at the expense of its rainforests
11th Mar 21, 11:10am
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Guy Trafford looks at the global trends for beef production, noting New Zealand is a minor producer with a world-leading minimal environmental impact, while the second largest is expanding fast at the expense of its rainforests
Guy Trafford looks at the supply indicators for sheep over the next six months. He also assesses the beef supply situation where rewards are likely in 2021
8th Mar 21, 9:16am
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Guy Trafford looks at the supply indicators for sheep over the next six months. He also assesses the beef supply situation where rewards are likely in 2021
The latest dairy auction result is all about Chinese demand, twisted by lower northern hemisphere production forecasts, and complicated by shipping delays. The net result is sharply higher prices
3rd Mar 21, 11:25am
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The latest dairy auction result is all about Chinese demand, twisted by lower northern hemisphere production forecasts, and complicated by shipping delays. The net result is sharply higher prices