Farmers affected by Mycoplasma bovis need help and support, but MPI treats them as guilty parties, claims Mid-Canterbury Federated Farmers dairy chair Chris Ford.

OPINION: Tensions are rising over the amount of productive farmland being taken up by forestry.

Federated Farmers Waikato president Andrew McGiven believes animal numbers would have to be effectively halved to meet the 2050 target set by the Government's new Zero Carbon Amendment Bill.

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 dumping of capital gains tax initiatives is yet another issue going right for the farming community – and farmers should cheer up, says Federated Farmers economics spokesperson and national vice-president Andrew Hoggard.

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

Federated Farmers says it is disappointed an exemption won’t be made for farmers who need semi-automatic rifles for pest control.

Regulators are being urged to work with and not against farmers.

Farmers say unless further changes are made to the Arms Amendment Bill, pests will be the winners and the environment will be the losers.

Federated Farmers' meat and wool council is calling for compulsory regulation of stock agents.