RURAL NEWS // JUNE 17, 2014
12 NEWS
Election jitters unsettle primary leaders P E TE R BU R K E peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
NERVOUSNESS IS afflicting primary industry leaders for the first time in 50 years as they ponder who will win the general elec-
tion. This is a key finding of the KPMG 2014 Agribusiness Agenda released last week. Interviews with 157 business leaders disclose their “trepidation” as they await the election out-
come and its “influence [on] the future potential” of the primary sector. Their chief concern is Green Party policy agenda in a Labour-led coalition. KMPG head of global agribusiness Ian Proud-
foot says the election issue was “regularly raised” in all the firm’s conversations with industry leaders. He says agriculture must keep telling its story especially where policy
change could make an impact – immigration, foreign investment and sustainability. But for most voters agriculture won’t be an election issue, he told Rural News. “For 35 years
FIELD TESTING BEGAN MARCH 1979. M O FR 99 $3,4 l. exc
gst
Will John Key still be PM after September 20?
we have had a left- or right-leaning government with reasonably consistent policy towards agriculture. “But… now industry leaders are concerned about two likely government scenarios: a coalition [in which] a strong Green and potentially a New Zealand First component creates… a government with a different attitude and approach to the primary sector.” The report also refers to a widening urban-rural gap, a perception encouraged by townie journalists who say or imply that farmers cannot be regarded as good stewards of the environment; meanwhile the industry itself is defensive and receives less media coverage. The report calls on farming to “proactively communicate” with urbanites. Proudfoot says farming within the limits of new regulations on water is a big challenge, and
that industry leaders are concerned at slow progress in getting new irrigation schemes underway. “Public concern that more water results in farming intensification and environmental deterioration” is throttling progress. Proudfoot says expectations that the economy will continue to grow even if primary production is cut back are incorrect; instead the returns from the primary sector will simply drop. Biosecurity tops the priorities of industry leaders; food safety is, for the first time, on their radar, ranked second; third comes securing high quality trade agreements; then investment in irrigation and water storage, market signals to producers and high speed broadband. Also in the top ten is the overall issue of data and developing future leaders.
Dairy levy passes
*
4.49p% osit
SO FAR SO GOOD.
hs mont Noupdte o 24
ee ent f
m for arly settle No e
Japanese designers wanted to be sure the AG100 could stand up to New Zealand terrain. Now they’re sure. The AG100: more durable and more affordable than ever.
YAM/6107B
*4.49% finance over 24-month terms is to approved GST Registered purchases. No deposit, structured finance over monthly, quarterly, six-monthly or annual repayments is to approved purchasers only. Application fees, charges and conditions apply. Offer applies at participating dealers only and while stocks last. Finance is provided by Yamaha Motor Finance New Zealand Ltd. Price is excluding GST. Prices, availability and specifications are subject to change. Offer ends 31 July, 2014.
www.yamaha-motor.co.nz
FARMER SUPPORT for the dairy milksolids levy is a “fantastic result,” says DairyNZ chair John Luxton. Based on milksolids production, 82% returned a yes vote, 7% higher than in the last poll in 2008. The percentage of yes voters (actual farmer numbers) was 78%. Eligible voter turnout was also up – 60%, or 68% based on their milksolids production. Farmers pay a levy of 3.6 cents/kgMS annually to fund DairyNZ “The result is a great credit to DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle and his team and a vote of confidence in their work,” Luxton told Rural News. “I was surprised at the turnout, but the fact it has gone up each time is a fair indication farmers have confidence in what DairyNZ is doing. When things are good, as they have been, there is always complacency in the democratic system. “But with a little nudging farmers have responded. It’s an indication of the cooperative nature of the dairy industry.” Luxton says the high yes vote is an indication of the industry’s dynamism. “Farmers are seeing an industry still moving forward. [The vote] is part of that moving forward and ensuring the R&D keeps going. As an industry we have challenges, but those challenges provide opportunities for us to build an even stronger and sustainable industry.” Luxton says the average farmer is paying annually just over $5000 in levy – “a fairly strong commitment to R&D” by each.