New Federated Farmers meat and wool chair praises predecessor
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
The Government’s Covid-19 economic support package is being praised by Federated Farmers.
“We support this package as being decisive and pragmatic,” says Federated Farmers President Katie Milne.
“Coming on top of the Reserve Bank’s similar response yesterday, New Zealand has in the past two days delivered a big stimulus, and quickly.”
“The Government has clearly decided that rather than give everyone a bit of extra money, to instead throw the kitchen sink at those most directly affected, and our most vulnerable people in the hope this will contain the impact on the wider economy.”
Milne says the package’s recognition of the vulnerability of small businesses was pleasing.
“There are a large number of small tourism and family businesses that rely on passing tourists in our rural communities, and they are already hurting.
“These businesses and their staff are in our rural communities and we stand by them.”
Milne also applauds the packages support for small businesses and employees that cannot operate from home.
“It’s also great that the needs of small businesses that cannot operate from home, and whose employees cannot work from home have been targeted for assistance - these people and businesses are the backbone of our rural, provincial, and urban communities alike.”
Federated farmers says the tax changes announced in the package will be useful for businesses in weathering the pandemic.
The tax changes include the reinstatement of depreciation deductions for commercial and industrial buildings, increasing the threshold for provisional tax, waiving interest on some late tax payments, and immediate deductions for low value assets.
However, there’s still some areas Federated Farmers want the Government to offer support on.
“We would like to see some commitment around prolonging the visas of migrant workers in New Zealand, to ensure that our primary producers can continue to produce,” says Milne.
Commercial fruit and vegetable growers are being encouraged to cast their votes in the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board directors' election.
A unique discovery by a Palmerston North science company, Biolumic, looks set to revolutionise the value and potential of ryegrass and the secret is the application of ultraviolet (UV) light.
A New Zealand company is redefining the global collagen game by turning New Zealand sheepskin into a world-class health product.
With further extreme weather on the way, ANZ Bank is encouraging farmers and business owners impacted by the recent extreme weather and flooding to seek support if they need it.
New Zealand must continue to educate Chinese consumers about the unique qualities of its red meat products and how they differ from competitors, says Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton.
There are opportunities outside the farmgate for young farmers to further develop their skills, says 2025 Primary Industries Emerging Leader Award winner Bridie Virbickas.
OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…