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16 Alliance heading for a record year Vol 20 No 41, October 24, 2022
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BLNZ rolls up its sleeves on HWEN report Annette Scott
NEWS
He Waka Eke Noa
M
ORE than two years of cross-sector collaboration with uncomfortable conversations and robust debate on pricing emissions has not been recognised and “I am gutted”, Beef + Lamb New Zealand director Nicky Hyslop says. “I am gutted as a sheep and beef farmer and as a BLNZ director with the government decision to make significant changes to He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN), which now have an unacceptable impact on a sheep and beef farmer,” Hyslop told farmers at the central South Island farmer council annual meeting. “We get the current farmer anger and frustration but let’s channel that into strong messages that will resonate with the public, build pressure on the government and get constructive changes to make this whole thing workable. “The bottom line is we are not going to agree to anything that threatens the viability of our industry and of our family farms. “We accept that we have a role to play in reducing our emissions but not in a way that will put us out of business,” Hyslop said. “This is a great sector; we are proud stewards of our land and right now most of us are seeing pretty solid farmgate returns.
“Yes, there’s some significant headwinds and challenges ahead and to meet these challenges we need to be in the right mindset, we need to be match fit and ready so let’s focus on the positives, look for the solutions for our challenges, see the opportunities and remember we are all part of pretty special sector with a bright future ahead.”
We get the current farmer anger and frustration but let’s channel that into strong messages that will resonate with the public, build pressure on the government and get constructive changes to make this whole thing workable.
Fruit crops hijacked by late frost Waikato organic blueberry grower Oliver de Groot says the recent frost that wiped out crops is the worst they have experienced, with temperatures plummeting to -4.8degC. “We had two helicopters working but they can only provide protection down to -2degC, it just got too cold.” Photo: Peter Drury
NEWS 3
Cities swell with furious farming voices Southland farmers Russell MacPherson, Winton, John Sinclair, Wright’s Bush, Doug Fraser, Groper’s Bush and Lance Henderson of Fairfax were a few of the many who took to the roads last week to protest the government’s regulatory reforms. Photo: Natwick
Nicky Hyslop Farmer director BLNZ chair Andrew Morrison said farmers did not ask for the sector to be the one to set prices, but farmers must be more than consulted on price settings and spending revenue. In particular, farmers should have direct control and say over the use of the re-investment of the farm levy back into the sector, he said. “As a sector we wanted Continued page 4
RIDE RED THIS CHRISTMAS
NEWS 5 Much has changed for farming in New Zealand since the sector lost privileged market access.
New Zealand is already pouring oil on the CPTPP’s troubled waters ahead of becoming chair.
The low turnout at the recent local government elections was a disgrace, Alan Emerson believes.
POLITICS 7
POLITICS 10
OPINION 20
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