Government Amends Stock Exclusion Regulations for Low-Intensity Grazing
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.
OPINION: Back in the 1960s and '70s, and even into the '80s, successive National government Agriculture Ministers and Trade Ministers were at the top of the cabinet rankings.
People like Duncan MacIntyre, a farmer and war hero, were close to the top and, at one stage, MacIntyre was deputy Pm.
But after the Muldoon era, both Labour and National have pushed the ag portfolio well down the pecking order, and as we see in the PM's latest cabinet reshuffle, Todd McClay is ranked 10th out of 13 - just above the Minister for Mental Health and well above Ministers with responsibility for the arts, hospitality, the public service, prisons and universities.
How times have changed.
National is often considered 'the farmers' party', so should farmers feel aggrieved that the person representing their efforts in earning the bulk of our export revenue is treated like this?
A verbal stoush has broken out between Federated Farmers and a new group that claims to be fighting against cheaper imports that undermine NZ farmers.
According to the latest ANZ Agri Focus report, energy-intensive and domestically-focused sectors currently bear the brunt of rising fuel, fertiliser and freight costs.
Having gone through a troublesome “divorce” from its association and part ownership of AGCO, Indian manufacturer TAFE is said to be determined to be seen as a modern business rather than just another tractor maker from the developing world.
Two long-standing New Zealand agricultural businesses are coming together to strengthen innovation, local manufacturing capability, and access to essential farm inputs for farmers across the country.
A new farmer-led programme aimed at bringing young people into dairy farming is under way in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.