The Zero Carbon Bill has just been passed into law, but not without significant misgivings from across the farming sector.

Climate change policy and the emissions trading scheme (ETS) are farmers’ biggest concerns.

As well as laying out its new strategy, Fonterra should make clearer how it got into this trouble, says Federated Farmers national vice-president and dairy farmer Andrew Hoggard.

The New Zealand Bankers’ Association has welcomed the news that the government will introduce a Bill to parliament to set up a farm debt mediation scheme.

The farming sector has engaged in the national effort to draft a credible response to climate change so New Zealand is seen internationally to be doing its bit.

Only by culling cows would New Zealand achieve the methane emission targets set by the Government unless there was a major breakthrough in science, says Federated Farmers national vice-president Andrew Hoggard.

The Government's decision not to proceed with a capital gains tax has been approved by farmers. 

Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to reject most of the raft of new taxes proposed by the Tax Working Group (TWG).

Fonterra's milk price review last week was a mixed bag, says Federated Farmers vice president Andrew Hoggard.

Six commercial farms have been destroyed by the huge fire in the hills southwest of Nelson, according to Federated Farmers.