Water allocation, usage tops hort sector concerns
Water allocation and storage has been a hot topic of discussion during HortNZ’s grower meetings held recently around the country.
Confusion reigns in the horticulture sector after Labour passed its Regional Fuel Tax (RFT) law this week.
Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman says the tax comes into force in Auckland on Sunday without an exemption system for off-road ‘behind the farm gate’ vehicles and machinery. Chapman says 441 fruit and vegetable growers in Auckland will be affected.
"Growers should not have to pay the RFT for vehicles and machinery that are supposed to be excluded from this tax, yet on Sunday they will have to. We are talking about considerable numbers of vehicles and machinery used to produce healthy food for New Zealanders, both in Auckland and beyond,” Chapman says.
He says growers will have to go through a complicated and costly process to get a rebate on tax paid as there is currently no exemption process.
Chapman says the process was rushed to meet Auckland Mayor Phil Goff’s announced 1 July deadline, and as such those in horticulture industry were not listened to. He says the tax will affect growers’ businesses and costs considerably, to the point of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. He adds these costs will be passed onto the consumer, resulting in more expensive healthy food.
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.