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Don’t game the system — Editorial

OPINION: Almost invariably every general election is described as the most important one ever. The fact is every election is important!

Water regs wash away farmer confidence

Rabobank New Zealand chief executive Todd Charteris says farmers with a pessimistic outlook cited government policy as a key reason.

Government policies and the ongoing fallout from Covid-19 are being blamed for a continuing drop in farmer confidence.

It’s all kosher – Taggart

Alliance chair Murray Taggart says the co-op had been “open and upfront” about the wage subsidy.

Farmer-owned cooperative Alliance Group says it has already returned $17 million of the $34.3 million it claimed from the Covid-19 wage subsidy.

Alliance faces court over subsidy

Alliance Group chief executive David Surveyor says the co-op has been in “ongoing discussions” with the Ministry of Social Development over the application of the wage subsidy.

Self-proclaimed ‘political operative’ Simon Lusk is taking the Alliance Group to court in a bid to force the meat company to pay back the wage subsidy it claimed during the Covid lockdown earlier in the year.

Changes just don’t add up

Jane Smith claims that despite Environment Minister David Parker establishing four advisory groups it appears that no economic analysis of the proposals was ever prepared.

Farmer Jane Smith claims that farmers find comments from David Parker, Damien O’Connor and the Green Party’s James Shaw nauseating.

Critic calls for a major investigation into freshwater reforms

North Otago sheep and beef farmer Jane Smith says she is not prepared to lean on the gate and let a lack of procedure sneak through.

Award-winning, environmentally-focused farmer Jane Smith wonders whether she’s farming in North Otago or North Korea.

Sheep milk demand soars

Maui Milk general manager operations Peter Gatley.

Sheep milk company Maui Milk is looking for new farmer suppliers as demand soars.

She has unfinished business

Former Fonterra director Nicola Shadbolt is one of six candidates vying for the two vacant board seats on the dairy co-op this year.

Former Fonterra director Nicola Shadbolt says she has unfinished business on the co-operative’s board.

11th hour visa relaxations welcomed, but more needed

It’s estimated that rural contractors still need to find nearly 400 more workers. Photo: Paul Sutherland Photography.

An ‘11th-hour’ relaxation of border restrictions by the Government has been welcomed by the agri sector, but the wider industry is calling for more exemptions.