It isn’t the case that such a catastrophe will happen only once in every 500 years – the chances are if we are unlucky events like that will occur more often. As far as he’s concerned it’s pretty likely the flooding occurred because of climate change and that’s because the warmer the earth the more water vapour in the atmosphere, which leads to heavier and heavier rain.
Unfortunately for Northland, it has seen events at both ends of the scale – first drought then flood. The same climate change process is at play in drought because when the weather is settled but hotter there is more evapotranspiration and soils dry out more quickly.
Covid-19 has provided a minor respite from increased greenhouse gas emissions – perhaps 8% – but that type of reduction needs to occur every year from now on to make a dent in climate warming.
Gerard Hutching
Dairy farmer costs
Dairy farmers face continued volatility, which will act as a drag on their profitability, according to DairyNZ’s latest economic survey. Feed, labour, maintenance and fertiliser, in that order, are their main costs.
PGG Wrightson forecast
PGG Wrightson expects to post a pre-tax result of $23-$24 million, about the same as last year, which the board chairman describes as pleasing considering the challenges thrown at the company.
Pride campaign to lift spirits
Farmers in Manawatu-Wanganui are being given the chance to let their hair down before the new agricultural season begins in earnest with a series of Pride in our Land events at the end of July and into August.
Resilient economy to rescue
An NZIER report shows primary industries have weathered the lockdown well with export receipts even healthier than this time last year. It warns a global recession might yet burst New Zealand’s bubble.
Dairy genetics upgrade
A better system of assessing cattle genetics is being worked on at a cost of $1m. The new system will record and collate vital data on a range of important traits of dairy cows, especially the non-production traits.
Tonight on Sarah's Country
7.10pm – Submissions to the Commerce Commission closed on Friday for New Zealanders’ thoughts on the copper withdrawal code as Chorus plans to roll-up the copper lines across the country. TUANZ chief executive Craig Young explains how consumers must have access to an equivalent fibre service first.
7.20pm – Almost $2 million will be spent developing integrated training for shearing and wool handling where skill shortages are dire and covid-19 border restrictions on essential workers are mounting pressure. We will discuss the challenges with Shearing Contractors Association spokesman Mark Barrowcliffe.
7.30pm – Britain is scrambling for trade deals before it leaves the European Union at the end of the year and rarely does NZ enjoy the leverage it has over the UK in talks now under way. We discuss that with the Red Meat Sector’s United Kingdom representative Jeff Grant.
7.40pm – The Government has announced nearly $2 million funding for the King Country River Care Group, which aims to involve 150 farms in the Awakino River, Mokau River and Upper Mangaokewa catchments that cover more than 183,000ha, to plant wetlands and waterways.
