Govt happy to let farmers decide
OPINION: In the last few weeks of 2024 there was a lot of noise in the UK and Europe about the methane inhibitor, Bovaer, and concerns raised as to its safety.
Rural News understands that this new farmer movement is set to launch very soon and will be pushing for a different approach to tackling on-farm emissions - especially in relation to methane.
It is understood the group will be promoting a 'methane accord', which it says will be a set of 'not negotiables' when it comes to analysing methane.
The group says its target audience is everyone - urban, rural, politicians (both outgoing and incoming). It also wants to ensure that the pressure goes on agri companies and co-operatives - such as Fonterra and Silver Fern Farm - to show their 'true colours' when it comes to pricing emissions.
"We have had enough of the Government and others in our midst - BLNZ, DairyNZ, Feds, Silver Fern Farms, Fonterra, ANZCO and Food and Fibre 'Leaders' Group - pretending to say all the right things but actually still fundamentally supporting the pricing of biogenic methane emissions," the group says.
It describes the current government and industry proposals to price agricultural emission via the He Waka Eke Noa accord as a plan to "self-sabotage" NZ's primary industry sectors.
