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.
Last week, the country’s dairy processors came out with their wishlist for politicians.
Their message is clear – dairy is, and can continue to be, an engine for growing a more prosperous New Zealand.
Dairy is a high-wage, export-intensive industry that converts a natural advantage into durable national income.
The stats speak for themselves: one in every three dollars that New Zealand earns from goods trade is a dairy dollar. Dairy has delivered more than $9 billion of export revenue growth since 2020.
It has delivered for New Zealand during a difficult period. This delivery has included functioning as an important shock absorber for regional economies across New Zealand, with dairy processors continuing to purchase from thousands of farms and other businesses across a multitude of other industries even during challenging times.
Therefore, policy frameworks matter.
Dairy processors have five priorities for government action: an ambitious trade agenda, top-class infrastructure, streamlined food regulation, nutrition policy based on current science and clear labelling and a sound biosecurity system.
The processors want free trade agreements that include NZ dairy exports.
The shape of the next government is anyone’s guess. With the Greens pushing to curb nitrogen use on dairy farms and Labour and Opportunity’s obsession with environmental issues, a not-so-farmer-friendly regime will be a major concern for the dairy industry including milk processors.
But if NZ wants continued prosperity, the message from dairy companies is clear: bipartisan approaches, with a view to New Zealand’s long-term success, are equally important across the trade, infrastructure, food regulatory, and biosecurity policy domains.
