Wednesday, 23 September 2020 14:09

$50m commitment not enough for farmers — National

Written by Staff Reporters

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National’s ag spokesperson David Bennett.

Labour’s $50 million commitment to support integrated farm planning will do little for farmers, claims National’s ag spokesperson David Bennett.

He says Labour doesn’t back farmers and today’s announcement will do little to ease burden of meeting regulations.

“Today’s promises around farm environment plans will do little to alleviate the individual farm cost and won’t necessarily mean that there will be a streamlined process for all farmers,” says Bennett.

“Labour can’t be trusted to deliver reasonable and rational rules when farmers know the true intentions of their party."

Bennett says Labour’s changes to winter grazing won’t be of much help to farmers.

“Minster O’Connor has said that consent for winter grazing will no longer be required and will instead come under a new system. Farmers will be wary of what this new system looks like and will be afraid it’s just more of the same from Labour.

“This is just more tinkering, which is occurring because of their own failed processes that didn’t consult with farmers.

“Right now we need our farmers to be positive, investing, creating jobs and getting us through the Covid crisis – Labour doesn’t back them but National does.”

National will be releasing policies for the primary sector tomorrow.

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