What's going on?
OPINION: On the 2nd of May, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced that the 'government remains on track to ban full farm-to-forestry conversion'.
However, Federated Farmers has decided not to back the joint submission from the 10 partners.
It recommends changes that would develop an emissions pricing system that creates incentives and opportunities to reduce agricultural emissions while maintaining the viability of the primary sector.
The submission recommends changes to price setting, governance and transitional arrangements that would see decision-making on emissions pricing balance the socio-economic impacts on the primary sector and wider economy with emissions reductions.
The submission notes that the Government proposals as they stand are not acceptable to the Partners or the farmers and growers they represent.
The submission says artners remain committed to working in good faith with government and Māori to design a practical cost-effective farm level system for enabling the agricultural sector to play its part in responding to climate change. It makes recommendations intended to achieve an effective and enduring system that Partners can support.
The joint submission is from Apiculture New Zealand, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Dairy NZ, Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand, Deer Industry New Zealand, Federation of Māori Authorities, Foundation for Arable Research, Horticulture New Zealand, Irrigation New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association. Federated Farmers of New Zealand has decided not to be part of the joint submission.
Independent chair Sarah Paterson says Partners have worked hard to develop a shared view on issues raised by the Government proposals and it is disappointing Federated Farmers has chosen not to sign the joint submission.
“The Partnership came together because Partners could see that by working together they could achieve a better outcome for the primary sector as a whole than they could have done separately. We are much stronger as a sector when we all work together.
“Partners will continue to work constructively and collectively in the spirit of partnership to explore common ground and solutions.”
