Battle over live exports
Rather than banning live animal exports, New Zealand should raise the standards required of the industry.
Dirty tricks played on the farming sector by an animal rights lobby could cost the group its charitable status.
SAFE has criticised the dairy industry via its highly publicised campaigns targeting mistreatment of bobby calves.
Last year, it published a scathing ad in UK newspaper The Guardian, describing the "shocking treatment" of calves in the New Zealand dairy industry.
In response, outraged farmers described the campaign as "emotional scaremongering" and said it was an attempt to undermine NZ's economy.
A petition started by Gore dairy farmer Bridget Lowry has reached nearly 11,000 signatures, calling for SAFE's charitable status to be revoked.
The petition has been presented to the Department of Internal Affairs and is being treated as a formal complaint, which could lead to its status being reviewed. A spokeswoman said the department had requested information from SAFE about its current activities.
Lowry said she was sick of SAFE's "slander against dairy farmers", which she said unfairly portrayed them as cruel.
She claims the lobby did not use funds to educate the public, as required to maintain its charitable status, she said.
SAFE's most recent financial reports show virtually all its funding -- just over $1 million – comes from donations. If its charitable status was revoked, it would have to pay tax on its donations.
SAFE executive director Hans Kriek says the claims were unfounded and he was not worried about losing charitable status.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.