https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/farmers-protest-party-set-shake-up-dutch-political-landscape-2023-03-15/

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/farmers-protest-party-set-shake-up-dutch-political-landscape-2023-03-15/ AMSTERDAM, March 15 (Reuters) - A farmers' protest party shook up the political landscape in the Netherlands on Wednesday, emerging as the big winner in provincial elections that determine the make-up of the Senate. The BBB or BoerBurgerBeweging (Farmer-Citizen Movement) party rode a wave of protests against the government's environmental policies and looked set to have won more Senate seats than Prime Minister Mark Rutte's conservative VVD party. A first exit poll projected BBB won 15 of a total of 75 seats in the Senate, which has the power to block legislation agreed in the Lower House of parliament, with the VVD dropping from 12 to 10 seats.

An interesting perspective by a Dutch academic on the “Nitrogen Crisis ór Delusional Expertocracy and the Destruction of Dutch Agriculture” | Jaap C. Hanekamp

https://jaaphanekamp.com/posts/2023-03-13-the-ersatz-nitrogen-crisis-%C3%B3r-delusional-expertocracy-and-the-destruction-of-dutch-agriculture/ https://twitter.com/GHGGuru

Australian consumers being duped by well known bank and identity scams

I am not sure what else the ACCC can do as Australians are obviously too relaxed and lazy to guard again bank and identity scams. https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/bank-impersonation-scams-robbing-australians-of-their-life-savings Bank impersonation scams robbing Australians of their life savings 30 March 2023 Consumers are being warned to be wary of phone calls and texts that appear to be from their bank, following alarming reports of Australians losing their life savings to a highly sophisticated impersonation scam.

Meat processing jobs. Seek.

https://www.seek.com.au/meat-factory-jobs Tamworth, Tamworth & North West NSW $47,000 - $70,000 p.a subClassification: Assembly & Process Work Assembly & Process Work classification: Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics) Above Award pay, meat discounts and other benefits Stable employment with the opportunity to earn more by upskilling A company that fosters a supportive culture and values its people We are looking for motivated, reliable people to fill a number of general labour roles at our Tamworth, NSW modern meat processing facility.

USDA report. Commercial Red Meat Production Down 4 Percent from Last Year

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.26 billion pounds in February, down 4 percent from the 4.43 billion pounds produced in February 2022. Beef production, at 2.09 billion pounds, was 7 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.55 million head, down 5 percent from February 2022. The average live weight was down 21 pounds from the previous year, at 1,374 pounds https://release.nass.usda.gov/reports/lstk0323.pdf

Fuss, funds, idiocy and the new religion

When will the crazy stuff end? I will ride shotgun on the nonsense. UNE to lead $1.9 million methane reduction project. Even got a new acronym and now Dept of Agriculture is short of funds for real agriculture as they are out spending money on seaweed. Next thing there will be fish die offs and other unintended consequences of flakey science.

Someone please put the lid on "green washing"

"ESG: JBS, reinforced its commitment towards a global ESG agenda and announced Jason Weller as Global Chief Sustainability Officer and Michael Koenig as Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer. Additionally, a Global Compliance Committee was formed, subordinated to the Board of Directors, and it is tasked with overseeing continued improvements and enhancements to the compliance program and promoting a company-wide culture of compliance". Global companies and some with less than unblemished records over long periods are out touting their green credentials with frequent references to the UN. We even have small industry bodies referencing the UN. A lot selling but no serious green organisations are buying. Give us a break.

Sydney comes in second last on the affordability index.

No surprise there. It is the most overrated expensive rather untidy collection and nothing to be proud of. http://www.demographia.com/dhi.pdf It is really quite sad as I am a Sydney sider born and bred and my ancestors journed as free settlers to Australia in the 1840s and lived in close quarters to the City and finally settled in Paddington. The houses still stand.

Weekly report March 20 2023

Latest weekly report 

A word I am thoroughly sick of "Activist"

Noisy, ill informed nut jobs drowning out common sense, logic and some parts of a great Western Civilization. Latest idocy: "Activists calling on Tassal Tasmanian Salmon to remove industrial feedlots" https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/activists-calling-on-tassal-tasmanian-salmon-to-remove-industrial-feedlots/video/e7dd57e5da35c184b9efa783368c332b They look like pristine waters.

Dutch farmers' protest party scores big election win, shaking up Senate

Excellent news. Definitely made my week. Get rid of Greens.

AMSTERDAM, March 15 (Reuters) - A farmers' protest party shook up the political landscape in the Netherlands on Wednesday, emerging as the big winner in provincial elections that determine the make-up of the Senate. The BBB or BoerBurgerBeweging (Farmer-Citizen Movement) party rode a wave of protests against the government's environmental policies and looked set to have won more Senate seats than Prime Minister Mark Rutte's conservative VVD party. A first exit poll projected BBB won 15 of a total of 75 seats in the Senate, which has the power to block legislation agreed in the Lower House of parliament, with the VVD dropping from 12 to 10 seats.

Updates from Brazil

ABRAFRIGO CLIPPING No. 1934 OF MARCH 9, 2023 Brazil Total beef exports down 29% in revenue and 16% in volume in February

Total beef exports in February (including all fresh and processed meats) reached US$ 695.2 million and 152.28 thousand tons, which meant a drop of 29% in foreign currency and 16% in volume, compared to February 2022, of US$ 974.3 million and 181,727 tons, respectively. The drop, however, only partially reflects the suspension of exports to China, the results of which may be more visible in March.

https://www.abrafrigo.com.br/index.php/2023/03/09/clipping-da-abrafrigo-no-1934-de-09-de-marco-de-2023/

USDA FAS China

Report Name: Livestock and Products Semi-Annual Country: China - People's Republic of https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Livestock%20and%20Products%20Semi-Annual_Beijing_China%20-%20People%27s%20Republic%20of_CH2023-0032

Weekly report 6 March 2023

Latest weekly report 

China economy update

http://en.people.cn/n3/2023/0301/c90000-10214146.html



Highlighting Chinese economy's resilience amid challenges in 2022 (Xinhua) 08:11, March 01, 2023 BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- China braved the economic headwinds and emerged from multiple challenges in 2022 with hard-won feats, according to an official statistical communique published on Tuesday.

After experiencing multiple ups and downs, the country's economy continued to withstand the downward pressures and scored 3-percent growth year on year in 2022, said the communique released on the website of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).



In a comment article on the communique, Sheng Laiyun, deputy head of the NBS, said that the steady macroeconomic fundamentals were underpinned by China's enhanced implementation of policies in 2022, when the economy was faced with a turbulent environment abroad and arduous development tasks at home.

ACCC and greenwashing

ACCC. ‘greenwashing’ internet sweep unearths widespread concerning claims. Of the 247 businesses reviewed during the sweep, 57 per cent were identified as having made concerning claims about their environmental credentials.

The cosmetic, clothing and footwear and food and drink sectors were found to have the highest proportion of concerning claims among the industries targeted in the operation. Other sectors examined also had a significant proportion of concerning claims.


"Our sweep indicates a significant proportion of businesses are making vague or unclear environmental claims. This warrants further scrutiny," ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said. "Consumers are now, more than ever, making purchasing decisions on environmental grounds. Unfortunately, it appears that rather than making legitimate changes to their practices and procedures, some businesses are relying on false or misleading claims. This conduct harms not only consumers, but also those businesses taking genuine steps to implement more sustainable practices."


https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-%E2%80%98greenwashing%E2%80%99-internet-sweep-unearths-widespread-concerning-claims