New Zealand - conflict in the countryside
Its over 15 years since I was last in New Zealand and the shift in agriculture is clear to see. Many of the hilly farms in the north and south are no longer sheep producers but have turned to dairy. On the Canterbury Plain cattle are also a dominant feature; with pivot irrigators ensuring the thin soils over gravel can keep producing grass. There is lots of fruit being grown too. Kiwis, cherries, apricots, plums destined for domestic and Chinese markets. There is lots of energy in the farming in New Zealand; it is dynamic, productive and exciting to be around. But there are challenges too. It was back in 2002 that the dairy industry here hit upon bad press due to the impacts of livestock on water quality. Consensus is that the industry dragged it heals and took too long to respond and as a result the ‘dirty dairy’ label has been difficult to shift. Lots of work has been done since then and progress is good. Through ind...