Comment: Feds should pump the brakes and rethink its token gesture on safety We're only seven weeks into the new year and already there are three major hurdles on the trucking industry's plate. The legalization of marijuana, the electronic logging devices (ELD) and either the total cancellation or just a fine-tuning of the North American Free Trade Agreement. That's more than enough for the trucking industry to swallow, so let me try to shed a little light on each of the three. [continues 647 words]
After plugging away for more than a decade to set up a hemp industry in New Zealand, former Otago fisherman-farmer Mac McIntosh has been given the green light. While the Government has only given approval for hemp trials, it is estimated up to 60ha could be planted out this season if enough seed can be obtained. Mr McIntosh said seed would be obtained from Hungary and Canada. Trials would be in Canterbury and north of Wellington, and would be controlled by Crop and Food Research. Hemp was a temperate climate crop and if the returns were worthwhile was certain to be grown in Otago and Southland. [continues 391 words]
