Editorial: Sensible move
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
OPINION: Parliament's show of support for tougher deterrents against livestock theft is welcome news.
Federated Farmers is encouraged by the cross-party support for tougher deterrents against livestock theft, as shown by members of Parliament’s primary production select committee.
I recently spoke to the committee on the Sentencing (Livestock Rustling) Amendment Bill and was heartened to see they were not politicking on the issue, just determining to work out the best ways of combating this problem.
The current wording of the bill would make rustling an ‘aggravating factor’ at sentencing, giving judges more leeway to order stiffer penalties.
Federated Farmers wants the new legislation to go further in allowing powers of seizure of vehicles and other equipment used in committing the offence, as happens with poachers under the Fisheries and Wild Animal Control Acts.
If stock thieves knew they could forfeit vehicles, trailers, firearms, trained working dogs, two-way radios, night vision and thermal viewing imagers, freezers, etc, it would give them considerable pause if they’re thinking of raiding a farm.
Moreover, if convicted rustlers lose such equipment, they can’t go back to such thieving any time soon, and that forfeited gear can be sold to yield money to reimburse the victims of the theft.
The federation submitted that rustling is robbing farmers of tens of millions of dollars every year. It is also an animal welfare, biosecurity and food safety issue: livestock are often killed and butchered at night in a paddock, and there are no controls over subsequent storage and blackmarket sale of meat from animals perhaps just treated with veterinary medicines.
Rustling also adds huge stress to a farmer and his family when he must leave his home to investigate suspicious activity to protect property and livestock while other family members are left wondering what is going on in the dark.
Farmers who have suffered trespass and livestock theft report feelings of suspicion and paranoia, loss of sleep and a reluctance to leave the property.
It is heartening to see there’s good momentum to put in place effective measures to tackle this serious and growing scourge.
• Miles Anderson is Federated Farmers meat and wool chairman.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
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