Saboteurs have no place in farming

Trust is a vital requirement to work in farming and Federated Farmers Manawatu-Rangitikei is frustrated at reports Ewen MacDonald has admitted to arson, sabotage and the needless killing of calves on neighbouring farms.

“It is a shock,” admits Andrew Hoggard, Federated Farmers Manawatu-Rangitikei provincial president and vice-chairperson of Federated Farmers Dairy.

“We respect the Jury’s decision that MacDonald was not guilty of the murder of Scott Guy.

“But we genuinely thought crimes like this were committed by some low-life toe-rag who’d never worked a decent day in their life.  It is a real shock to discover MacDonald has admitted to what are acts of sabotage.

“Frankly, I can’t understand the rhyme or reason.

“As a farmer, MacDonald well knows there are codes of animal welfare on how we treat our stock.  I have never heard anything untoward about how he treated his own stock, so how could he sneak onto another farmer’s property to kill their calves?

“MacDonald also knows how hard it is to produce quality milk.  Milk the lifeblood of any dairy farm and I cannot understand why anyone would maliciously and callously empty a vat.

“These are cold and calculating actions let alone he has admitted to also burning down a historic whare.

“Farms absolutely turn on trust.  Since it has been reported MacDonald has admitted to these crimes, how could you put your undivided trust in him?  Speaking personally, I couldn’t,” Mr Hoggard concluded.