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Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has suggested that the confusion around freshwater plans will get the once over.
OPINION: As the new National-led coalition begins its term in office, there are high expectations that the promises and rhetoric of the election campaign will quickly be transformed into actions.
National and ACT made a strong bid for the rural vote and were duly rewarded. NZ First was also there.
Promises of fewer and better regulations were made and this was music to the ears of rural people who felt that Labour was not listening to many of their concerns – especially around environmental matters.
It is not surprising that farmers voted for National as it has its genesis in the farmer supported Reform Party which was formed in 1909 and later merged with the Liberal Party in 1936 to become the National Party. Its farmer representation in parliament was initially strong but over the years has waxed and waned. But in this, the 6th National government, farmer representation in caucus is strong and supported by farmers in the coalition partners.
There are high expectations among farmers that there will be a paradigm shift in their favour, although wise heads are aware that environmental and other regulations to support the quality of exports will not disappear. So, what will, and can happen, and in what timeframe will the National-led coalition deliver the changes that farmers are hoping for?
Already there are strong noises from Agriculture Minister Todd McClay that the mess and confusion around freshwater plans are in his sights and will get the once over and be sorted out quickly. Other regulations said to be impractical and unworkable on-farm will also get a quick doing over.
Dairy farmer morale has lifted, but it is still fragile following the election of the new government. How long it stays positive may depend on how quickly and well National and its coalition partners live up to their election promises and meet the expectations of their rural constituents.
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.
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
OPINION: Two reports out last week confirm that the worst may be over for pastoral farmers.
OPINION: For the first time in many years, a commonsense approach is emerging to balance environmental issues with the need for the nation's primary producers to be able to operate effectively.
OPINION: The case of four Canterbury high country stations facing costly and complex consent hearing processes highlights the dilemma facing the farming sector as the country transitions into a replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA).
Some farmers in the Nelson region are facing up to five years of hard work to repair their damaged properties caused by the recent devastating floods.
Federated Farmers is joining major industry-good bodies in not advocating for the Government to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
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.
OPINION: Years of floods and low food prices have driven a dairy farm in England's northeast to stop milking its…
OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content…
