Federated Farmers urge government to honour KiwiSaver promise
Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to deliver on its pre-election promise to change the KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers get their foot on the farming ladder.
News reports that the United States' Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) is to increase export subsidy support to US$60 million, is a misdirection of voluntary farmer levies in the eyes of Federated Farmers of New Zealand.
"We need to clear this has nothing to do with the United States Government," says Willy Leferink, Federated Farmers dairy chairperson.
"Cooperatives Working Together is a voluntary producer-funded national program developed by America's National Milk Producers Federation. While designed to assist family farms, New Zealand's farmers know from bitter experience that programmes like this actually hurt family farms.
"You end up maximising energy to get a subsidy instead of listening to markets.
"It also means the United States' taxpayer is paying twice over. The multi-year United States' Farm Bill, now in the Houses of Congress, is costed at something like US$1 trillion. What CWT is doing is cross-subsidising exports through what US consumers are paying domestically.
"While it may be voluntary for producers, it is less voluntary for US domestic customers.
"Money like this would be far better invested in helping dairy farmers adapt systems to a no-subsidy future. Farming is a business after all. In that regard Federated Farmers would be pleased to work with US farming groups to show how we have adapted and evolved.
"There is plenty of scope for us all but that must be based on the market place being an even playing field, Leferink says.
The Good Carbon Farm has partnered with Tolaga Bay Heritage Charitable Trust to deliver its first project in Tairāwhiti Gisborne.
Education union NZEI Te Riu Roa says that while educators will support the Government’s investment in learning support, they’re likely to be disappointed that it has been paid for by defunding expert teachers.
The Government says it is sharpening its focus and support for the food and fibre industry in Budget 2025.
A European Union regulation ensuring that the products its citizens consume do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation worldwide threatens $200m of New Zealand beef and leather exports.
A long-acting, controlled- release capsule designed to protect ewes from internal parasites during the lambing period is back on the market following a comprehensive reassessment.
Healthcare appears to be the big winner in this year's budget as agriculture and environment miss out.
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