Gary Fleming, Mt Grey Homestead, North Canterbury branch May 2014
Gary Fleming describes his100-hectare property where over 650 species of trees have been planted on the three distinct soil types. Trees are grown for timber, for shelter of the deer…
Dugald and Mandy Rutherford, Melrose, North Canterbury branch July 2014
High country farm forestry at its best - the Rutherfords have 250 hectares of forestry, and are now into an annual harvest. Species grown include radiata pine and Douglas fir,…
Continuous Cover Forest Harvesting - In Action Nick Ledgard, May 2021
‘Woodside’ is the 121ha property of John and Rosalie Wardle, located in the Mt Oxford foothills some 10km west of Oxford. 84ha (74%) is clothed in regrowth black beech forest,…
Mt Grey field day in Canterbury open to everyone (Access: NZFFA membership)
Grant Hunter, May 2020
Our regular North Canterbury Branch field day in February was at Gary Fleming’s property near Mt Grey. Gary was the South Island Husqvarna Farm Forester of the Year for 2019.…
Profit from a small plantation at Melrose (Access: unrestricted)
Nick Ledgard, May 2016
In the November 2015 North Canterbury newsletter, after the last field-day at a property with a number of small blocks of mixed species, I wrote rather somberly about the economics…
Forestry in the hill country: Sustainability and survival (Access: unrestricted)
Viviennne McLean, August 2009
Dugald and Mandy Rutherford have farmed their home block Melrose since 1975. The 3,477 ha property lies 20km inland from Hawarden, North Canterbury, and ranges from moderate to hard hill…
Emissions Trading Scheme fee review a relief for cost-struck foresters Thursday, February 29, 2024
The New Zealand Forest Owners Association says the review of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) fees is a relief for foresters facing excessive costs and loss of climate change action. …
Planting trees on pasture can have a positive impact on soil health Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Rather than damaging soil in New Zealand, planting trees on pasture restores soil to be similar to its original condition. A recent news story highlighting changes in soils from converting…
Forest plantation soils have benefits too Tuesday, December 19, 2023
The Forest Owners Association (FOA) says the fact that soils under plantation forests are similar to soils under native trees, does not make them damaged, as a recent Newshub report has claimed.…
Wilding Conifers - A legacy issue that needs continued, collaborative management Sunday, October 29, 2023
Forest owners welcome the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s (PCE) acknowledgement that the presence of wilding conifers across New Zealand is largely a legacy issue, but caution against placing costs…
Stock take of the commercially viable alternatives to Pinus radiata Tuesday, October 03, 2023
Scion has published a “Stock Take of the Commercially Viable Alternatives to Pinus Radiata” for MPI, which reviews alternative species, their expected growth rates, climatic range, resilience to pests or…
SNA regulations 'confusing ecological naivety' Thursday, July 06, 2023
Forest Owners say the just released National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB) is a classic bureaucratic formula of confusing ecological naivety which will not help rare species and likely…
Forest Owners hail ‘Biosecurity Hero’ Monday, May 22, 2023
The Forest Owners Association and Scion want more people to report suspicious imported wood products which might be infested with introduced wood and forest pests. FOA Biosecurity Manager, Brendan Gould,…
Tairawhiti land use inquiry not addressing wider issues Sunday, May 14, 2023
The Forest Owners Association says the Ministerial Inquiry into landuse in Tarawhiti has a core of practical recommendations, but has not addressed some more difficult and fundamental issues. President, Grant…
Opportunities from Trees Workshops - NZ Wide Wednesday, April 19, 2023
The NZ Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) is running 18 extension workshops in May and June with a target audience of landowners, or people with access to land, who are potential tree…
Forest Owners back more trees for Tairawhiti Sunday, April 16, 2023
The Forest Owners Association has told the Ministerial Inquiry into land use in Tairāwhiti, that the region’s future has to include more trees for land stability. But it appreciates forest…
Forest Owners want genetic technology approved Thursday, February 16, 2023
The Forest Owners Organisation says New Zealand needs to concentrate on the safety of genetic technology on a case-by-case basis rather than persisting with blanket bans. The FOA wants approval…
Fieldays Forestry Hub to demonstrate that forestry is a solution Monday, November 28, 2022
A range of solutions to farmers’ current problems will be on display in the Fieldays Forestry Hub near Hamilton between 30 November and 3 December, says Farm Forestry Association president,…
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