17th April 2026 // Rural News in partnership with Farmlands

Emissions Fall But Dairy Rises Greenpeace Takes Aim At Dairy Native Forest Awards Close Today   Rural News is in partnership with Farmlands as part of CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp - our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch / listen.   Emissions Fall But Dairy Rises New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions fell slightly in 2024, dropping 0.1 percent on the previous year according to the latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Once forests and carbon sinks are factored in, net emissions fell two percent to 55 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent — continuing a trend that has seen net emissions drop 15 percent since peaking in 2006.  Agricultural emissions, which make up more than half of New Zealand's total, decreased slightly by 0.3 percent — largely driven by falling sheep numbers. However, emissions from cattle rose by 200,000 tonnes as dairy cows produced more milk.  Energy emissions increased after low hydro lake levels forced greater fossil fuel use to generate electricity.  Ministry for the Environment Chief Science Adviser Alison Collins says the inventory helps identify where pressure on the atmosphere is increasing — and where effort needs to be focused. Greenpeace Takes Aim At Dairy Greenpeace is using the same inventory data to call for an end to dairy industry expansion, pointing out that while overall agricultural emissions edged down, emissions from intensive dairy farming specifically increased in 2024. Climate campaigner Sinéad Deighton-O'Flynn says intensive dairy accounts for 26 percent of all agricultural emissions — more than any other single industry — and that growth is equivalent to adding 100,000 cars to New Zealand roads for a full year. Greenpeace is calling on Fonterra to reduce herd size rather than expand, warning that Canterbury alone is set to add 30,000 cows following recent Government policy changes. Fonterra and DairyNZ have not yet responded publicly to the claims. Native Forest Awards Close Today Farmers and land managers across the country have until the end of today to enter or nominate someone for the Growing Native Forests Champions awards, which celebrate those planting and restoring native forests. The awards, run by the Ministry for Primary Industries, cover six categories including trees on farms, lifestyle blocks, large-scale restoration projects, forestry companies, mana whenua, and catchment or community groups. Nominations can be submitted at mpi.govt.nz with the winners announced at National Fieldays in Hamilton in June.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.