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https://theconversation.com/most-nz-dairy-farmers-put-profitability-first-but-some-are-planting-native-trees-anyway-242189>
"Globally, about 40% of ice-free land is used for agriculture, managed by
farmers and herders.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, this share is even higher, with 51% of land used for
agriculture and horticulture. Of this, currently about 10% is used for dairy
farming.
When natural habitats are cleared for agriculture, most native biodiversity is
lost. Dairy farms represent intensive farming systems with significant
detrimental consequences for biodiversity, water and soil quality. However,
hedgerows, riparian plantings and shade trees can enhance native biodiversity
within these landscapes.
In our new study, we visited 14 dairy farms and interviewed farmers in the
Waikato and Canterbury. The research was qualitative, allowing for an in-depth
exploration of the experiences, values and priorities New Zealand dairy farmers
have for their land and the implications for native biodiversity on farms.
We found dairy farmers have multiple values and priorities but limited time,
resources and energy. While working within external constraints such as land
ownership or regulations, farmers will act on what they value most.
Unlike most developed countries, New Zealand’s agricultural sector is entirely
exposed to global markets. About 95% of dairy products are exported and
government support is the lowest among OECD countries. Perhaps unsurprisingly,
we found most dairy farmers list economic viability as their highest priority."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
