A new partnership between Federated Farmers of NZ and the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association (NZTBA) underlines the commitment of both organisations to helping their members be front-runners in caring for their animals and land. “Farmers who join the Federation have long recognised we’re stronger together,” Feds CEO Terry Copeland says. “With thoroughbred breeders also […]
Politics
Feds slams miserly EU meat and dairy quotas
The trade deal with the EU is a slap in the face for New Zealand farmers, Federated Farmers says. “That the Europeans’ protectionist mindset on livestock products remains entrenched is sadly not a surprise but the very small quotas agreed are considerably worse than we expected,” Feds President and trade spokesperson Andrew Hoggard said. New […]
Economic Week – July 1
by Nick Clark, Federated Farmers Manager National Policy Fonterra’s updated forecast Late last week Fonterra announced an update to its forecast farmgate milk price for the new 2022/23 season. The updated range is $8.75-$10.25 per kgMS, up from its earlier forecast of $8.25-$9.75 per kgMS. This increases the midpoint of the range, which farmers are […]
Forestry bill fails to achieve fairness
New rules fall short of delivering a level playing field when overseas investors buy our farmland for forestry, Federated Farmers says. It’s a “step in the right direction” to scrap the much-criticised special forestry test, Feds Gisborne-Wairoa President Toby Williams said. Instead, overseas investors purchasing farmed land for conversion to forestry would be required to […]
NZ needs to hang tough on EU trade deal
By Andrew Hoggard, President Federated Farmers of NZ Now is not the time for New Zealand to water down ambitions for a significant, comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade deal with the European Union. If anything, with all the extra uncertainty, cost and supply chain disruption from COVID, Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine and tense geopolitical […]
Economic Week – June 24
Farm sales down but prices holding There were 403 farm sales in the three months ended May 2022, according to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand’s Rural Market Statistics. This was down 11.0% compared to the three months ended April 2022 and down 10.4% on the three months ended May 2021. For the full […]
European Green Deal could see food become a luxury
By Mark Ross, Chief Executive of Animal and Plant Health NZ Is food set to be a luxury of the wealthy? This is the question that resounds from reviewing the agricultural policies that Europe is seeking to adopt – policies that will have major implications for New Zealand food producers exporting to Europe. With 800 […]
High Court backs Wairoa council’s bold move on forestry rates
By Debbie Bidlake, Federated Farmers Senior Policy Advisor Wairoa has boldly gone where few councils have gone before – never mind small, resource poor ones. It has introduced a x 4 forestry differential on the general rate to fund the impacts of afforestation on the community and the roading network, rather than using a targeted […]
KiwiSaver home purchase withdrawal rules work against farm staff
The ability to withdraw money from their KiwiSaver account has helped many New Zealanders into their first home. But for those looking to buy a house that is on a farm property it’s much trickier, and for those living in farm serviced tenancies the KiwiSaver pathway to getting on the property ladder is blocked. Since […]
Calls for GM debate, regulation reform, grow louder
by Simon Edwards It baffles John Caradus that there are nearly 100 foods produced using gene technology that can be sold in New Zealand if suitably labelled but it’s not possible for New Zealand farmers to use GM technologies in food production. “You’ve got to say that the logic just doesn’t stack up,” the Grasslanz […]