Editorial: Sensible move
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
In an irony not lost on free-marketers, Federated Farmers — in which farmer membership is voluntary — supports imposing a compulsory levy on all wool growers.
Feds meat and wool council voted last week in favour of a levy on wool producers; but with the proviso that the cross-industry Wool Working Group (WWG) comes up with a “clear, practicable and compelling blueprint for lifting wool’s profile and returns”.
Delegates from the 24 provinces, at a meeting in Wellington, agreed that unless a collaborative plan for wool research, development and marketing is formulated — and widely backed — the death-knell will be heard for New Zealand’s crossbred wool industry.
“Without that plan, we’ve got an industry facing death by a thousand cuts,” Feds meat and wool chair Miles Anderson said.
“My fear is that the next time there is a downturn in sheep meat prices, we’ll lose a critical amount of breeding stock from the sector and ultimately we could see a hollowing-out of rural economies, with mass tree planting on productive farm land.”
The WWG, comprising representatives of farmers, buyers and major wool product makers, has since last July been laying the groundwork for a strategy aimed at better promotion to consumers of wool.
The WWG met again last Thursday, but already has assurances of Government support for an initial period to set up a governance and staff structure to bed in an industry-agreed plan.
Anderson says Feds vote in favour of a compulsory wool levy, assuming a proven plan and structure, was to show that farming leaders are committed to the cause.
“In the last decade, two earlier farmer votes on a wool levy were not successful for different reasons. But our reading of farmer sentiment is that there is widespread recognition of the need for urgency in the entire sector — farmer through to manufacturer — to get on the same page and win the market share this great fibre deserves.
“But our signal to the Wool Working Group is that if they come up with a workable plan and structure to drive improvements, Federated Farmers will join the push for a referendum to secure a levy to drive progress.”
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
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