Editorial: Sensible move
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Federated Farmers president Katie Milne says the new Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor is obviously well versed in agriculture, which many Feds members and all farmers will appreciate.
She knows O’Connor reasonably well and says he has been a farmer, has brothers farming and is well connected with the industry, making it easy to talk to him about the issues that affect farmers.
“He speaks about rural-proofing things that go through government and that sits quite close to what our role is as we see it. This involves making sure that a rural lens gets properly applied to everything. We are looking forward to working with him and his team to get the best possible outcomes.”
Milne says farmers, like all New Zealanders, want the best for the environment and are committed to finding solutions that are science-based, cost-effective and community-driven. She says people in farming and working in the wider primary industries have been actively making a difference for the last 20 years, investing money and energy in making this aspiration a reality.
“What farmers need from the new government in the climate change space is that any new regulation still enables growth, innovation and productivity as it seeks to lower emissions. As the Paris Agreement says, it should not compromise food production in the process.
“It’s a big challenge and with science already working hard to find animal mitigations, regulation needs to avoid unintended consequences.”
Milne says the Federation welcomes the opportunity to assist the new government with planning for these goals and to make them achievable.
“This will ultimately require tailored solutions that will be fit for purpose for both rural and provincial NZ and the primary sector,” says Milne.
The Federation hopes to start talking soon with ministers allocated the new roles that affect its members.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
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