Trump’s tariffs put $1.3B NZ exports to US at risk, DCANZ warns
Donald Trump's uncompromising tariff policy is set to put New Zealand dairy exports to the US under huge pressure.
The Dairy Companies Association of NZ (DCANZ) says it’s disappointed at the Government’s response to the He Waka Eke Noa partnership proposal.
Executive director Kimberly Crewther says the Government’s proposal is fundamentally different to what He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) put forward. She says DCANZ has raised concerns about how the changes made are pushing a system that achieves a reduction by cutting dairy production.
“In our view, [the proposal] holds a very strong risk of emission leakage, being counterproductive to the global emissions reduction outcomes that we are trying to contribute to,” she told Rural News.
Crewther says the agricultural sector had worked hard to come to a consensus, which took into account a broad range of considerations. This included taking advantage of the opportunities that exist in NZ and managing the risk of undue economic impact on rural communities – especially if that involves cuts to production in NZ.
Crewther says DCANZ believes the data set the Government used in its modelling has produced a grossly inaccurate result for the dairy industry.
In its submission, DCANZ says, rather than achieving emissions reductions by cutting agricultural production, which is what the Government is proposing, a better approach would be to incentivise the uptake of new tools and practices that reduce emissions. It believes such a move would maintain the positive contribution of NZ dairy to global food systems.
DCANZ also wants the Government to fully commit to a farm-level system from the outset through the removal of the processor-level backstop.
“As well, we want certainty to farmers as they transition into a pricing system by capping levy prices for the first five years and ensuring they are set at the minimal level required to fund incentives, sequestration, research and development, and administration,” Crewther says.
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
From 1 October, new livestock movement restrictions will be introduced in parts of Central Otago dealing with infected possums spreading bovine TB to livestock.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
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