OPINION: Former Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard rocked the local political scene last week by stepping down early from his farmer leader role to announce that he will contest the next election under the ACT Party banner.
There will be questions around why ACT and not National. Whatever the reasons, it's a prize catch for ACT.
The high-profile Manawatu farmer is well liked in the farming community as a straight shooter and is also a regular commentator in the media on farming-related issues. In his last opinion piece for the Feds, Hoggard has described the Government's proposed emissions pricing plan as "unacceptable".
Meanwhile, Hoggard's Twitter account, with over 3,300 followers, is now locked. His Twitter profile has changed to "Opinionated dairy farmer from Kiwitea".