Be afraid
OPINION: Your old mate hears some of the recent uptick in farmer confidence has slipped since the political polls started leading a bit to the left, away from the current coalition of National, Act and NZ First.
These groups have copped a lot of flak from their levypayers for being 'too cosy' with the Government and not pushing back hard enough on policies like greenhouse gas, water and other proposed reforms.
This is particularly worrisome for Beef+Lamb, which is facing a levy vote later this year.
Things have got so bad that Groundswell NZ recently came out and denied it was not trying to undermine the farming levy collecting industry bodies.
Groundswell spokesman Bryce McKenzie warned farmers that, "if levy votes are lost, it could be quite damaging to farming."
However, he did go on to emphasise that the farming sector needed "one, strong, united voice".
