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.
OPINION: The elevation of former Feds leader Andrew Hoggard to number 5 on the ACT Party list puts the Manawatū farmer in pole position to be in a National/ACT cabinet, post-election.
With recent polling putting National/ACT ahead of Labour/Greens, Hoggard could end up as the Minister for Agriculture and Trade in a Chris Luxon-led government.
While some may call this wishful thinking this early, having the former Feds president as ag minister could cause quite the stir in the Beehive.
Hoggard's popularity among New Zealand farmers and his international profile is such that, if he got the job, it could give the farming sector a real confidence boost.
Massey University vice chancellor Pierre Venter says his institute is moving from a period of austerity into a growth phase, based on their new strategy.
With the red meat sector going through a boom time with high prices, the time is right for the industry to step up its investment into developing new food products.
Meat Industry Association chief executive Nick Beeby says there’s now much closer cooperation between meat processing companies than there was many years ago.
A new fruit quality research laboratory has been opened in Auckland by agritech company Hectre to develop pioneering hyperspectral technology.
Farmer lobby Groundswell believes that farmers are worried about the implications of a potential centre-left government.
With less than a week to go before voters choose the next government, Federated Farmers has a simple message to its members - get out and vote.