Monday, 12 October 2020 10:16

Ground zero!

Written by  The Hound

OPINION: Your old mate hears plenty of ill-informed comment from farming critics and other anti-farming types in this country about how farmers are always getting handouts or somehow bludging off the state.

This is especially high whenever there is an adverse weather event, such as a drought or a flood, and some kind of government assistance is offered to the rural sector.

However, the actual facts around farmers in different countries benefitting from the state make fascinating reading.

According to official figures, farmers in the Nordic countries seem to benefit the most from subsidies as a share of farm income with Norway at 61%, Iceland at 59% and Switzerland at 55%.

The next highest are Korea at 52% and Japan at 48%. The E.U. pays 20%, the U.S. 10%, Canada 9%, Brazil 3% and Australia 2%.

Meanwhile, New Zealand farmers earn 0% in government subsidies!

Featured

Rural health programme inspires new optometry graduate

Grace Su, a recent optometry graduate from the University of Auckland, is moving to Tauranga to start work in a practice where she worked while participating in the university's Rural Health Interprofessional Programme (RHIP).

National

India FTA negotiations end

A landmark moment for New Zealand. That's how  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon describes the conclusion of negotiations for an India-New…

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Yes, Minister!

OPINION: The release of the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill to replace the Resource Management Act is a red-letter day…

Two-legged pests

OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter