DairyNZ Farmers Forum underway
Over 300 farmers and rural professionals have gathered in Hamilton for the first DairyNZ Farmers Forum for this year.
The Leader of the National Party is accusing Labour of painting farmers as villains and effectively the enemy, which he says is certainly not the case.
Christopher Luxon's comments came in the small Manawatū township of Rongotea at a dairy farmers' forum organised by DairyNZ.
About 100 people turned up for the event which was also used as a networking event. Luxon had earlier attended the Friday Feilding sale where he also met informally with farmers. His speech was not focused on specific farming issues so much as the lack of positive outcomes from government spending.
His time at the podium, to a largely sympathetic audience, was mainly spent trying to woo and assure the rural community that National always was, and still is, the farmers' party. It was unashamedly electionerring.
"We are back an dare serious about our commitment to the agricultural sector," he proclaimed.
Luxon then went on to say that NZ is an agricultural nation and this is something everyone should be proud of. He listed a series of statistics such as the fact that NZ feeds 40 million people, employs 350,000 people generates 80% of our exporter earning and for every man, woman and child generates $9,000 a year.
"That is a phenomenal record. We have seen tourists and education go backward post Covid; agriculture is more important to us than it's ever been and it should be celebrated."
Farmers are feeling more satisfied with their banks, but the situation remains fragile, says Federated Farmers.
Environment Canterbury has confirmed a surge in interest in new dairy conversions, with four effluent discharge permits for conversions granted since the start of the year.
Probably the smoothest season growers can remember. That's how Kiwifruit Growers Association (NZKGI) chief executive Colin Bond describes the situation with fruit picking just past its peak.
The golden weather of international trade is well and truly over, according to New Zealand's top trade negotiator.
A record $10/kgMS opening forecast milk price for the new season means more money into Fonterra farmers pockets early, says Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre.
Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard says the consenting experience facing some high-country Canterbury sheep and beef farms is "bloody tragic" and vindicates the Government's move to abolish the Resource Management Act (RMA).
OPINION: The Free Speech Union is taking this one too far.
OPINION: New national data from The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA), a leading workplace drug tester, shows methamphetamine (meth) use is…