Federated Farmers Welcomes ACT’s New Farming Policies
Federated Farmers has welcomed new rural policies released by ACT, saying they align closely with its own election priorities.
The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) is calling on the next government to match the industry’s ambition with action on trade, infrastructure, energy, food regulation and biosecurity.
Releasing DCANZ’s roadmap, Priorities for Government Action, chair Guy Roper says dairy’s scale, productivity and strong global demand give it unmatched potential to increase export earnings.
“Dairy already earns more than one in every three dollars from New Zealand goods trade, directly contributes $10.7 billion to GDP, supports 51,800 jobs and pays $4b in wages.
“And it has the potential to make a significantly larger contribution.
“Export earnings grew from $13.4b in 2015 to $28.3b in 2025 — a compound annual growth rate of 7.8%, which was achieved with annual milk supply growth of only around 0.2%,” Roper says.
“If good policy enables dairy to sustain that rate of value growth, New Zealand will be better able to fund the health, education and transport systems we all aspire to.
“Capturing that opportunity requires an ambitious trade agenda, long-term infrastructure investment, internationally competitive energy and science-based, efficient, export-facilitating food regulation and biosecurity.”
DCANZ has listed its five priorities for government action: backing an ambitious trade agenda, deliver good infrastructure and energy settings, better food regulation, base food and nutrition policy on current science and clear labelling and funding a sound biosecurity system.
