Genuine Hipkins
OPINION: At the recent NZ Dairy Industry Awards, opposition leader Chris Hipkins made a surprise appearance.
ACT agriculture spokesman Mark Cameron last week wrote to new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins calling for a rethink on agricultural emissions pricing. Here’s his letter:
"I write asking you to consider the financial and regulatory burden that agricultural emissions pricing will place upon growers and producers in New Zealand.
As I am sure you are aware, growers and producers are facing an increasingly challenging economic environment.
In the last financial year alone on-farm inflation in New Zealand has increased by 10.2%.
Prices for fuel, fertiliser, and vehicular repairs and maintenance increased by 54.3%, 23%, and 10.4% respectively last financial year.
On top of increasing production costs, farmers face the added challenge of responding to a range of regulatory pressures such as intensive winter grazing, significant natural areas, and freshwater regulations.
This is no small undertaking considering the current global economic climate.
The seemingly unrelenting pressure of unworkable regulations and high operating costs has already taken its toll on farmers, with farmer confidence in New Zealand sinking to an all-time recorded low.
For Government to place additional regulatory and financial burden upon growers and producers now is nonsensical. If agricultural emissions pricing is implemented many may be forced out of the industry, rural communities will suffer, and mental health may be further impacted.
You have just seen the impact of regulations on the poultry industry: a nationwide shortage of eggs and rising prices for families trying to buy one of the most affordable and healthy sources of protein.
How would you like to see an impact like that imposed upon the entire agricultural sector? In these challenging times the Government needs to stop imposing additional costs upon farmers which will only force production offshore to less-efficient competitors.
Subsequently, I implore you to adopt ACT’s policy of tying agricultural emissions pricing to that of New Zealand’s five major trading partners, ensuring a level playing field for growers and producers in New Zealand.”
The CEO of Apples and Pears NZ, Karen Morrish, says the strategic focus of her organisation is to improve grower returns.
A significant breakthrough in understanding facial eczema (FE) in livestock brings New Zealand closer to reducing the disease’s devastating impact on farmers, animals, and rural communities.
Farmer co-operative LIC has closed its satellite-backed pasture measurement platform – Space.
OPINION: The case of four Canterbury high country stations facing costly and complex consent hearing processes highlights the dilemma facing the farming sector as the country transitions into a replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA).
The 2024-25 season apple harvest has “well and truly exceeded expectations”, says Apples and Pears NZ chief executive Karen Morrish.
Through collaborative efforts with exhibitors, visitors, and industry partners, Fieldays says it is reaffirming its commitment to environmental responsibility with new initiatives for 2025.
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