This newsletter includes: encouraging STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects for better career opportunities, evidence based decision making - farmers need research they can trust, and a Stanford University article where they found no health or nutritional benefits of organic compared to conventionally produced meat and vegetables.
‘Is soil biology a can of worms?’ Tony Parsons and Jacqueline Rowarth answer some of the common questions and misconceptions around soil management and the impacts on soil carbon. In addition there is an introduction to helpful farmer websites - PestWeb (www.pestweb.co.nz) and the climate smart farmers site (http://climate-smartfarmers.wikispaces.com/About+Climate-Smart)
Again evidence based decision making is in the spotlight highlighting the NZGA strapline - 'fuelled by science, tempered by experience'
Castlepoint Station, owned by NZGA immediate past president Anders Crofoot and wife Emily win the Wairarapa Sheep and Beef farm business of the year. Dr Bruce Thorrold, DairyNZ debates the adoption of the term biological farming for marketing purposes when all farming is based on the biological soil, plant and animal systems. The final article is on the flaws of carbon pricing as a methodology reducing carbon emissions.