increase font size
New TAMA president Kyle Baxter.
With Covid-19 effectively cancelling the annual meeting of the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA), this year’s event was conducted by teleconferencing.
The annual meeting is normally held at the National Fieldays.
John Tulloch, who has headed TAMA for the past two years, has made way for new president Kyle Baxter of Norwood. He will be backed by new vice president Alistair Tulloch of the Power Farming Group. Also elected to the management group were Josh Vroombout (AGCO), Brian Matchett (Piako Group) and Tim Brown (Southland Farm Machinery).
“The relevance of TAMA is now even more important as we move through these challenging times,” Baxter says. “This has already seen us move away from just reporting monthly sales figures, to working closely with government and other industry bodies to play our part in the primary industry’s recovery of the New Zealand economy.
“Over the last few years, we have welcomed new members from the machinery retailing sector. That means TAMA can speak as a united voice in areas such as apprenticeships, recruitment of skilled staff from within NZ or from overseas, while continuing to raise the profile of an industry sector that is worth in excess of $1.6 billion annually.”
In other TAMA news, the provider of statistics for the association, Agriview is reporting that sales of tractors in NZ to June 30, was down by 25% to 1275 units (2019 saw 1702 for the same period). Meanwhile, the rolling 12-month total was down by a similar amount to 3580 machines.
TAMA has also been lobbying government to raise the current asset value write-off levels to $150,000 to align the allowance with Australia. Currently, the level in NZ is only $5,000.
So far, the Minister of Finance Grant Robertson and Revenue Minister Stuart Nash have declined the suggestion and talks of future tax policy reviews. Meanwhile, National’s spokesman for agriculture David Bennett says the write-off allowances need looking at. He has indicated that if elected, National would raise the figure to $150,000 for two years.
TAMA has also been in discussions with the National Fieldays organisation. It is hoping to gain concessions for its members, which will see the organisation waive the contentious Premium Reserve site fees for the 2021 event.
OPINION: The Rural Support Trust ran a dinner and debate at the National Fieldays last month. In tables of 10, over 540 people were wined and dined, including the Prime Minister, supported by ministers from around the country.
With June ending and following the most upbeat National Fieldays for several years, tractor dealers are reporting a lift in sales.
OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts started after their disastrous Covid response; now trying to undermine the Covid inquiry to protect his own backside.
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.
Three new directors are joining Horticulture New Zealand’s board from this month.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) says proposed changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will leave the door wide open for continued conversions of productive sheep and beef farms into carbon forestry.
Federated Farmers says a report to Parliament on the subject of a ban on carbon forestry does not go far enough to prevent continued farm to forestry conversions.
New Zealand Apples and Pears annual conference was a success with delegates and exhibitors alike making the most of three days of exhibitions, tours, insightful discussions, valuable networking and thoughtful presentations.
The future of New Zealand’s agricultural sector grew a little brighter, with the South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) now accepting applications for its scholarships through Lincoln University, offering $10,500 to up to six exceptional students who are poised to become the next leaders in the primary industries.
OPINION: Nothing it seems can be done in the short term to get Donald Trump to change his mind about removing the unfair 15% tariffs that he’s imposed on New Zealand exports to the US.
OPINION: Your old mate reckons townie Brooke van Velden, the Minister of Workplace (or is it Woke Place) Relations is…
OPINION: There's an infamous term coined by a US general during the Vietnam war, specifically in reference to the battle…
