Minister of Agriculture to supply ETS costing analysis

Agriculture Minister, the Hon David Carter MP, has agreed to supply Federated Farmers with how the Ministry of Agriculture has deduced its costing for the Emissions Trading Scheme.

“The Minister came down to talk to farmers, so we thought it the perfect opportunity to ask him about some of the things that are important to us. Farm inspections, animal identification and tracing (NAIT) as well as the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) were at the top of our list,” says Lachlan McKenzie, Federated Farmers Dairy chairperson.

“Obviously farmers are not happy about the ETS, that is going to hit every single New Zealander in the pocket and it’s exactly one week until it comes into force.

“We wanted to express to the Minister our concerns surrounding the scheme and the negative impact it’s going to have on the New Zealand economy.

“During questions, we were extremely pleased the Minister agreed to provide us with MAF’s calculations for the cost of the ETS on farms. We’ve had two different figures quoted to us in as many weeks so analysing the detail behind it is welcome. We thank him for his openness.

“I expressed my concerns about the Government’s NAIT scheme. We’re not happy about the extra cost the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is creating and offered the Minister a much cheaper commercial alternative.

“The Minister argued that NAIT would have helped in the Waiheke Island foot and mouth hoax. Yet sheep are not in NAIT but are the predominant livestock on that island. The problem seemed more of tracing landowners than the individual sheep.

“Snap dairy farm inspections by MAF staff in Southland was another issue we wanted to clear up with the Minister, given it’s souring relations.

“I’ve heard numerous reports from members about MAF staff behaving inappropriately and intimidating farmers and young farm workers.

“The Minister said he was unaware of these inspections, but he will enquire about them when he gets back to Wellington. I sincerely look forward to hearing his response as we all want a Ministry that acts for farming,” Mr McKenzie concluded.