Tuesday, 14 January 2025 11:55

Multiple levies irk farmers

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
With the transition of the Mycoplasma bovis programme to a National Pest Management Plan, the number of biosecurity levies farmers pay will increase to seven. With the transition of the Mycoplasma bovis programme to a National Pest Management Plan, the number of biosecurity levies farmers pay will increase to seven.

In its submission on proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act, DairyNZ says its levy-paying members invested more than $60 million across the biosecurity system last year, through multiple biosecurity levies across several entities and legislative frameworks to collect this funding.

It points out that this adds unnecessary complexity, administrative cost and a lack of transparency with levy investment in biosecurity for farmers.

"We would like to see a more integrated and sustainably funded biosecurity system for the livestock sector that minimises risks through collective readiness and good biosecurity practices," it says.

"To support this, our farmers need certainty and consistency of the principles that will be applied to risk management, cost-sharing, and decision-making across the biosecurity system."

It also notes that delivery of services within the biosecurity system is fragmented, with inconsistent legislative and system settings to support effective funding and delivery.

"Different programmes often have the same stakeholders involved and this contributes to the frustration experienced by dairy farmers about regulatory burden and lack of transparency of levy investment."

DairyNZ notes that farmers currently fund the biosecurity system through six different levies and with the transition of the Mycoplasma bovis programme to a National Pest Management Plan (NPMP), this increases to seven.

"Dairy farmers may also contribute further funding to the biosecurity system when cattle are designated as beef cattle for slaughter and on the purchase of seed for arable crops."

It recommends that biosecurity levies consolidated into a single levy (or fewer levies) with the creation of a cross-industry organisation that integrates the deliver, and funding, of biosecurity services would be a more efficient way to recover costs and lessen administrative expense for industry and government.

More like this

Less hot air

OPINION: Farmers won't get any credit for this from the daily media, so Milking It is giving the bouquets where they’re due.

Featured

Case IH partners with Meet the Need

Tractor manufacturer and distributor Case IH has announced a new partnership with Meet the Need, the grassroots, farmer-led charity working to tackle food insecurity across New Zealand one meal at a time.

25 years on - where are they now?

To celebrate 25 years of the Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship, Ravensdown caught up with past recipients to see where their careers have taken them, and what the future holds for the industry.

Rockit Global appoints COO

Rockit Global has appointed Ivan Angland as its new chief operating officer as it continues its growth strategy into 2025.

National

Machinery & Products

Iconic TPW Woolpress turns 50!

The company behind the iconic TPW Woolpress, which fundamentally changed the way wool is baled in Australia and New Zealand,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Keep it up

OPINION: The good fight against "banking wokery" continues with a draft bill to scrap the red tape forcing banks and…

We're OK!

OPINION: Despite the volatility created by the shoot-from-the-hip trade tariff 'stratefy' being deployed by the new state tenants in the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter