Federated Farmers, a prominent agricultural lobby, has unveiled its “rural roadmap” for the upcoming government. This roadmap, designed for the 2023 elections, emphasises 12 pivotal policy modifications the organisation wishes to realise.
Over the past half-decade, the agricultural community has navigated a maze of regulatory alterations.
Wayne Langford, the president of Federated Farmers, commented on the challenges faced by the farming community.
He stated, “While the intentions behind new regulations for water quality, biodiversity, and climate were commendable, their practical implementation has been problematic for our farmers. The outcome? A plethora of stringent, impractical rules that ensnare us in bureaucracy and impose unwarranted expenses.”
Langford highlighted the significant economic contributions of New Zealand’s farmers, from job creation to environmental conservation efforts. However, he also noted the current dip in farmer confidence. He expressed his organisation’s commitment to rejuvenating this confidence by presenting tangible solutions.
He elaborated, “In this election, our message is lucid. We aim to bolster farmer confidence, nurture prosperous rural communities, enhance environmental results, and tap into the latent potential of our primary sector. The beauty of our policy recommendations is their cost-effectiveness. We’re not seeking financial aid. We want the incoming government to establish an environment where farmers feel empowered to innovate, expand, and excel in their craft.”
Key Policy Priorities Outlined by Federated Farmers:
- Promote advanced technological adoption.
- Capitalise on water storage potential.
- Enable young farmers to utilise their Kiwisaver.
- Promptly reassess methane targets.
- Reevaluate ETS Forestry Rules and the net-zero objective.
- Abolish the ute tax and enhance infrastructure.
- Restore local community autonomy.
- Amend impractical freshwater regulations.
- Ensure effective RMA reform.
- Streamline Significant Natural Areas.
- Cultivate the farming workforce.
- Uphold fiscal and monetary prudence.
