Budget 2026: Slim Pickings For the Rural Sector
In advance of the Budget, Finance Minister Nicola Willis put a clear damper on expectations and delivered accordingly.
OPINION: This old mutt is never surprised by the stupidity of local councils and their bylaws.
However, he reckons a proposed bylaw in Tasman District Council surely takes the cake.
The TDC's proposed law will require farmers to hold sheep 50m back from a road while shifting stock until all cars have driven past!
Are they serious?
Surely not even the most officious of pen pushing bureaucrats thinks a law such as this is remotely sensible?
As Federated Farmers Nelson Provincial president Stephen Todd says, it could end up being an "unworkable joke".
Your old mate suggests with council elections coming up in October, perhaps the good citizens of Tasman District send their councillors a strong message and vote them out of office if this ridiculous rule comes into law!
In advance of the Budget, Finance Minister Nicola Willis put a clear damper on expectations and delivered accordingly.
Farmers should be cautiously optimistic as the 2026/27 season kicks off, says DairyNZ.
RaboResearch senior analyst Emma Higgins expects the 2026/27 dairy season to be another profitable one.
The new dairy season is kicking off with plenty of risks to the forecast farmgate price, both upside and downside, says ANZ agricultural economist Matt Dilly.
A potential showdown between the top two Federated Farmers leaders looms at the farmer lobby's annual meeting later this month.
FarmIQ Systems has developed a free land management app to help remove barriers to New Zealand farmers and growers adopting digital tools.

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