Monday, 12 October 2020 10:16

Ground zero!

Written by  The Hound

OPINION: Your old mate hears plenty of ill-informed comment from farming critics and other anti-farming types in this country about how farmers are always getting handouts or somehow bludging off the state.

This is especially high whenever there is an adverse weather event, such as a drought or a flood, and some kind of government assistance is offered to the rural sector.

However, the actual facts around farmers in different countries benefitting from the state make fascinating reading.

According to official figures, farmers in the Nordic countries seem to benefit the most from subsidies as a share of farm income with Norway at 61%, Iceland at 59% and Switzerland at 55%.

The next highest are Korea at 52% and Japan at 48%. The E.U. pays 20%, the U.S. 10%, Canada 9%, Brazil 3% and Australia 2%.

Meanwhile, New Zealand farmers earn 0% in government subsidies!

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