Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade
When it comes to international trade, politicians from all sides of the aisle are united, says Labour's trade spokesman Damien O'Connor.
OPINION: This old mutt hears that his editor has copped a fair bit of flak from readers after an article on former Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor appeared in the last issue of this fine organ.
It seems the general consensus was that while the former minister may claim that feedback he’s got on the new National-led Government is not positive, farmers couldn’t be more positive that he and his Labour mates are out of power.
Farmers say Labour’s six years saw a plethora of new regulations imposed on them that made little or no sense.
Which only goes to prove O’Connor’s admission in the same article, that it’s not easy being an agriculture minister in a Labour administration.
Watch this space for an announcement this year about the former Ag Minister’s new post-political career.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.

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