Editorial: Start of a new era

For the country’s farmers, a significant change in government was what they were after. The majority of farmers will be happy to see the change. Also, the three parties now in government have farmers as MPs. In ACT’s case, the former president of Federated Farmers, Andrew Hoggard, will be expected to spearhead its push for a better deal for farmers on all fronts.

The farming sector believes that National’s timeframe will enable the sector to get its numbers in order and for mitigating technologies to advance further.

For dairy manufacturers, the focus will be on areas of trade, food safety, biosecurity and climate. Existing free trade agreements will need to be fine-tuned to ensure they deliver on their intent. Farmers would also want new doors opened into markets which are currently not covered by FTAs.

An efficient and effective risk-based food regulatory system, a sound national infrastructure strategy that prioritises efficiency and therefore productivity in export supply chains, and a focus on biosecurity to retain NZ’s relative freedom from many livestock pests and diseases are also high on the agenda for dairy processors.

DCANZ members, like Fonterra, will hope that any domestic policy approaches for methane and nitrous oxide are effective.

Farmer representatives are ready to get to work with the new government to get the rural sector cranking again. Many will be hoping that a new era begins this week for the all-important agriculture sector.