The prospect of PGG Wrightson having to pay substantial damages to Silver Fern Farms over its failed deal to buy half of the meat processor has thrown the spotlight on the strength of Wrightson’s balance sheet. Wrightson’s share price has tumbled as investors grow weary of the company’s financial position. The rural services company has […]
The controversy over Meridian paying DoC $175,000 in exchange for it withdrawing its opposition to Project Hayes wind farm highlights the urgent need to reform DoC’s statutory advocacy role it enjoys under the Conservation Act. FedFarmers’ Don Nicolson says, “The number one priority is to end DoC’s statutory advocacy role under the Conservation Act and […]
Trade Minister, Tim Groser, has a sobering reality check for farmers regarding our ability to influence decision on imposition of subsidies. He says advocacy is the only weapon NZ has against the EU’s dairy export subsidies a thinly disguised admission there is little in practical terms NZ can do. “Let’s be blunt about this - […]
A year of lobbying by the Agricultural Transport Forum (ATF) and FedFarmers has led to the exemption of tractors and agricultural vehicles from the 2007 Land Transport Rule: Work Time and Logbooks. An amendment to the rule allowing tractors and other agricultural vehicles to be driven on a class 1 (car) license, providing they do […]
National has completed the dismantling of the $700m investment in primary sector innovation through the NZ Fast Forward fund. Opposition agriculture spokesperson, Jim Anderton, says he discovered at the Primary Production Select Committee the Govt has compulsorily retired the Fund’s board and transferred the cash back into the consolidated account.
Poor policy. He says the […]
David Carter believes Aust and NZ should co-ordinate their policies on emissions trading schemes. At their first bilateral meeting he told his Aust counterpart, Tony Burke, the two countries should work closely on implementing their respective ETS. Carter believes co-ordination is possible as the Aust Govt is still in the early stages of developing its […]
FedFarmers is not letting up on the Govt to push harder and faster with further changes to the RMA. It sees the announced changes as just a starting point which farmers will not be content with and is also concerned not enough effort has been put into reducing the bureaucratic interference in farm management through […]
Agriculture Minister, David Carter, has met his Aust counterpart for the first time in a meet and greet with Tony Burke, the former union official who now presides over farm policy. Burke has been drawn into the defence of the Rudd Govt’s climate change regime, which opponents charge will damage Aust’s economy and make farmers […]
Agriculture Minister, David Carter, says farmers should look for changes in behaviour of their local govt agencies, especially in the handling of resource consents, a particular bugbear for farmers slugged with roading, water and even town amenity costs through levies and rates. Carter says farmers should expect to see a drop-off in opposition to their […]
Water storage schemes in the South Island may get a jump start soon, with reforms to the Resource Management Act going to Cabinet this week. Environment Minister, Nick Smith, is set to announce the changes aimed at simplifying and streamlining the approvals process. Farmers fear water storage won’t make the cut for the Govt’s infrastructure […]
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