Editorial: Sensible move
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Farmers say they recognise they have ultimate responsibility of stock traceability, and want the National Animal Identification and Traceability system (NAIT) to work.
Federated Farmers presented to the Primary Production Select Committee on the proposed changes to NAIT legislation.
"Implementation and education on NAIT are lacking, we know a system that actually works would mitigate most of the non-compliance issues that currently exist in the NAIT system," says Federated Farmers Meat and Wool spokesperson Miles Anderson.
"We do not believe that farmers deliberately set out to be non-compliant, and our members have been very vocal of their concerns with the system".
These concerns include the usability of a system that is clunky and hard to navigate, requires technology which is expensive, and the reliance on connectivity that often fails or is nonexistent in rural areas.
"We have had lots of discussion around rural connectivity and know it is a major issue, it is continually overlooked as an integral part of this system working, we raised this concern with the select committee."
The idea of the Crown owning NAIT data is something Feds’ members vehemently disagree with. This proposal raises a red flag as to why the Crown would want ownership, when current legislation allows access to NAIT information in a transparent manner.
Federated Farmers does not support transporters being legislated into NAIT. Adding complexity to the existing NAIT system, or increasing the difficulty of the job that transporters already have, will only further undermine trust in the system.
"We see no value in transporters having to become the policeman.
"The NAIT system has recently been focused on improving usability, and we look forward to this continued approach with a healthy add-on of education and training on the ground, on farms, in the regions.
"We urge the government to enable NAIT to be implemented to achieve its purpose, support is far more effective than additional layers of complexity," Miles says.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
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