Farmer fury
OPINION: The new Labour Government in the UK is facing the wrath of farmers. Last week thousands of farmers and their supporters converged in London protesting changes to inheritance tax for farmers announced in the Budget.
Damien O'Connor is planning to head back to Europe again shortly to breathe oxygen into the free trade agreements that New Zealand is negotiating separately with the UK and the EU.
This will be the Minister for Export Growth and Trade and Agriculture's second trip to Europe this year.
O'Connor's visit will coincide with European politicians coming back from their summer break. He will visit key European Union capitals, as well as the headquarters of the EU in Brussels. There is also a rumour that he may stop off for talks in the United States. If so, O'Connor would become the first NZ politician to meet with officials of the new Biden administration.
There is also a suggestion that he will visit Ireland, where he has family connections. O'Connor's Irish links may help in some way to gain a friend at court in Europe, now that the UK is no longer part of the EU.
But there are no guarantees in the world of FTAs as a former trade minister and NZ High Commissioner to London, Sir Lockwood Smith, told Rural News several weeks ago. He described the EU as a totally different kettle of fish to Britain. Smith believes the EU is struggling a bit on the whole issue of agricultural access and says the first offer to NZ was "risible".
O'Connor and the NZ negotiating team face challenges with the EU given that any FTA requires the approval of all 27 member states.
On the slightly more positive side, he may be looking to finalise a FTA with the UK or at least get an agreement in principle for a FTA. After O'Connor's first trip to Europe this year, there were talks that NZ and the UK would have an agreement in principle signed last month, but this hasn't happened.
Federated Farmers is joining major industry-good bodies in not advocating for the Government to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
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.
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