Editorial: Don't take away farmers' tools
OPINION: Farmers are being put on notice by the Green Party.
The party says its ‘Drink Swim Fish’ policy will deliver “far reaching environmental change and protect human and ecological health from harm caused by corporate greed”.
In other words, reducing cow numbers and phasing out the use of synthetic fertiliser on NZ farms.
But using less fertiliser means you grow less food. Reduce supply, prices go up. The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research found that squeezing farmers’ use of nitrogen through tougher regulation could send the price of broccoli as high as $9 a head.
Not sure if that’s the Greens’ plan for helping with the cost of living.
Jones’ comments shows NZ First is fighting hard for the farmer vote this election.
