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Andrew Hoggard.
Expect more flak from politicians and others as New Zealand moves into general election mode, says Federated Farmers Dairy chair Andrew Hoggard.
He told Dairy News that election year traditionally means people put the boot into dairy farmers for whatever reason; it’s a time when various parties offer solutions which normally mean taxing farmers more.
He says this past year has been pretty tough for farmers and everyone has dug deep to get through it, a few people dropping out because the going has got too hard.
“But it’s not only the payment side of it, but all the SAFEs and Greenpeaces who have put the boot into us. Everyone seems to have nitrogen myopia when it comes to water quality. They seem to forget that phosphates and E.coli and sediment are also problems that can occur in waterways. We have been under a siege mentality for the last year. But the payment side of things is looking positive.”
In an attempt to counter negative criticism Hoggard says he’s made a point of getting on the front foot by telling the public the true story about the dairy sector. Much of the criticism is due to the expansion of the dairy industry, he says.
“Dairy has done well and this has had an impact to some degree. I don’t know if the criticism was unjust, but certainly the level of it was.
“I get annoyed that the good things dairy does don’t get recognised. There has been a concerted effort by farmers to mitigate things and the industry has improved the situation and it would be nice to occasionally get some credit for that.”
Hoggard says most New Zealanders have some understanding of dairying’s contribution to the economy, but he acknowledges it is hard for someone in, say, retailing in a city to think about the value of dairying.
Various mayors of Palmerston North, near where he lives, have said that if dairying was to go the local economy would be severely impacted.
Looking back on the last two years of low farmgate milk prices, Hoggard says dairy farmers should learn from this, especially the pressure of excessive debt.
“Farmers must budget on the fact that the industry will be up and down, and structure their businesses to meet that.”
They must also consider the environment, animal welfare and treating their staff well.
OPINION: Recent media commentary from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns among our rural communities, particularly around Environment Southland’s approach to winter grazing inspections and nitrogen reporting. But let’s be clear, much of what’s been said simply doesn’t reflect reality.
OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.
A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.
Federated Farmers say Environment Canterbury's decision to declare a 'nitrate emergency' is a shameless political stunt that won't help anyone.
Farmers want the Government to scrap controversial freshwater rules that "put river spirits and ideology ahead of practical water use", says Federated Farmers board member Mark Hooper.
Dawn Meats is set to increase its proposed investment in Alliance Group by up to $25 million following stronger than forecast year-end results by Alliance.
A day after the ouster of PGG Wrightson’s chair and his deputy, the listed rural trader’s board has appointed John Nichol as the new independent chair.
Tributes are pouring in from across the political divide for former Prime Minister Jim Bolger who passed away, aged 90.
The iconic services building at National Fieldays' Mystery Creek site will be demolished to make way for a "contemporary replacement that better serves the needs of both the community and event organisers," says board chair Jenni Vernon.
Agri advisor Perrin Ag says its graduate recruitment programme continues to bring new talent into the agricultural sector.
Entries are open for the 2026 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA).
