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paddock talk

NewsDecember 11

Paddock Talk: Shocking truths about agriculture worldwide

Greetings from Club Marama, where the spring has, on balance, been kind to us and, as a result, the animals are looking very well, which we are quite chuffed about!
NewsNovember 13

Paddock talk: Electoral imbalance can be addressed by referendum

In less than two weeks our votes will determine who governs us for the next three years. They could also determine the electoral system we'll have for several decades.
NewsOctober 30

Paddock Talk: NZers, Swiss worlds apart in dairy production

When I arrived in New Zealand to do some research about farming, I had to wonder.
NewsOctober 9

Linz and lessees' relationship warms

It is great to see the rebuilding of a positive and constructive relationship between pastoral lessees and Land Information New Zealand (Linz), which administers leases on behalf of the Government.
Linz and lessees' relationship warms
Linz and lessees' relationship warms
NewsSeptember 18

Paddock talk: Not just rugby in common with Argentina

We had expected to be in a minority supporting the Pumas at the Rugby World Cup match in Dunedin 10 days ago but the city was awash with blue and white.
NewsSeptember 4

Ideal time to close town-country gulf as election looms

It's a worry that only about 13% of voters live in rural areas, yet more than 60% of New Zealand's bills are paid for by agricultural exports.
NewsAugust 21

Looking forward to emissions trading scheme debate

Greetings from a soggy Club Marama where indeed the snow was of limited consequence as mid winter is a great time for snow!
NewsAugust 7

Boots and big hat will see you right at Stampede

Think of New Zealand's biggest A and P show, multiply it several times, add a Western theme, inject with Canadian warmth and you'll have some idea of the Calgary Stampede.
NewsJuly 24

Collaboration succeeding

Prior to 1987, most Crown-owned land in New Zealand was managed by the Lands and Survey Department (L&S).
NewsJuly 10

Support, direction required for rural sector

Sometimes I completely fail to understand New Zealand. As a nation we trade on a clean green image yet encourage the desecration of our resources at every turn.
NewsJune 26

Let's legislate for zero tolerance to drink-driving

My family, both close and extended, is two months into dealing with the death of my youngest son, Mitchell Thomas Clarke, April 20, 1992-April 24, 2011, who died in a car accident on Easter Sunday.
Let's legislate for zero tolerance to drink-driving
Let's legislate for zero tolerance to drink-driving
NewsJune 12

Inconsistent use of term 'biodiversity' frustrating

I get frustrated by frequent use of the term "continuing loss of biodiversity" being used to justify various decision-making and planning.
NewsMay 29

Stepping out with enterprising farming women

In fairytales, everyone marries and lives happily ever after.
NewsMay 15

Conservation: what should we expect from farmers?

In his 1939 essay, The Farmer as a Conservationist, the noted ecologist Aldo Leopold wrote: "The landscape of any farm is the farmer's portrait of himself. Conservation implies self-expression of that landscape, rather than blind compliance with economic dogma."
NewsApril 17

Food costs still proportionately less in NZ

The recent political and media focus on the increasing price to New Zealanders of milk, leading to scrutiny by the Commerce Commission, leaves one feeling rather cynical.
NewsApril 10

A hive of activity getting bees to their new abode

I've got a lump on my head like a small egg; a hole in my bee suit will need stitching; and my girls are pretty annoyed at me right now, but my beehives are home at last.
NewsApril 3

Bank's course gets down to business

Continuing professional education is a requirement to retain registration in many occupations.
NewsMarch 27

Warming to the idea of planting more trees

As the nights draw in, our thoughts often turn to firewood. And I don't mean just burning it, but planting it, pruning it, cutting it, carrying it, splitting it and stacking it to dry, too.
NewsMarch 20

Let's listen to one another, and learn together

A farmer recently told me about when he crashed his quad bike into a gate and flew off.
NewsMarch 6

Time to talk turkey over eating meat

The book Eating Animals, by Johnathan Safran Foer, is at once disturbing and compelling - the very subject matter (should we eat meat, do we have the right to treat animals the way we do?) are issues of note for a country like New Zealand for a variety of reasons.
NewsFebruary 20

Paddock talk: When strength becomes weakness for farmers

Accounting firm Deloitte is currently carrying out research leading to the development of an across-sector strategy for red meat.
NewsFebruary 6

Paddock talk: Removal of stock agents is not on

The xenophobic attitude to the purchase of New Zealand farmland by Chinese might make them feel unwelcome.
NewsJanuary 9

Change noticeable with little fertiliser

Greetings and happy New Year from a slightly soggy Club Marama, where the drought has been postponed after 140ml of rain in the past 14 days.
Change noticeable with little fertiliser
Change noticeable with little fertiliser
NewsDecember 12

An investment to secure a sustainable future

Growers of crossbred wool have only days left to decide whether to commit to Wool Partners Co-operative.
NewsNovember 14

'Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did'

"Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, except backwards and in high heels."