Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmers warned to monitor stock water wells
Sheep and beef farmers in Hawke's Bay are being urged to keep a close eye on the wells that supply water to their stock.
The Government's decision not to proceed with a capital gains tax has been approved by farmers.
Federated Farmers says it is heartening evidence that the coalition government is willing to put well-reasoned and practical considerations in front of ideology.
"It’s clear the coalition partners have listened to widespread concerns that a capital gains tax has too many downsides, including massive administration costs and the potential to put the handbrake on the progress of small and medium businesses vital to our economy," Feds economics spokesperson Andrew Hoggard says.
"It seems to us that New Zealand First has been pivotal in this decision, and we appreciate their pragmatism.
"The Prime Minister spoke this afternoon about new measures to tackle land banking and land speculation, an approach that has a much better chance of tackling our housing affordability issues than a CGT."
Federated Farmers is pleased the Government is committing to looking at the compliance cost reduction ideas mentioned in the Tax Working Group’s report.
"There were a number of these that are worth looking at, including increasing various thresholds (e.g., for provisional tax) and simplifying depreciation and Fringe Benefit Tax, and removing resident withholding tax on close company-related party interest and dividend payments," says Hoggard.
"We’re also pleased with the assurance that there will be no resource rental for water or fertiliser tax — at least in this term of Government."
The sale of Fonterra’s global consumer and related businesses is expected to be completed within two months.
Fonterra is boosting its butter production capacity to meet growing demand.
For the most part, dairy farmers in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti and the Manawatu appear to have not been too badly affected by recent storms across the upper North Island.
South Island dairy production is up on last year despite an unusually wet, dull and stormy summer, says DairyNZ lower South Island regional manager Jared Stockman.
Following a side-by-side rolling into a gully, Safer Farms has issued a new Safety Alert.
Coming in at a year-end total at 3088 units, a rise of around 10% over the 2806 total for 2024, the signs are that the New Zealand farm machinery industry is turning the corner after a difficult couple of years.

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