Farmers are under pressure and all New Zealanders should be concerned

Published Mar 15, 2023

Tridge summary

The CEO of Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Sam McIvor, has written an opinion piece highlighting the challenges faced by New Zealand farmers due to extreme weather conditions, rising costs, and uncertain global markets. The article emphasizes the economic impact of these challenges, particularly in areas with a high concentration of sheep and beef cattle. It also criticizes the government's policies, which are perceived to disproportionately burden sheep and beef farmers. The piece also discusses the potential financial and sustainable impact of these policies on farming, the reduction in methane emissions by the sector, and the need for government engagement with the agricultural community.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Sam McIvor is chief executive of Beef + Lamb New Zealand. OPINION: Many farmers and rural communities face a long road to recovery in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, while other farmers in parts of the South Island are grappling with extreme dry conditions. It’s a challenging time for farmers, who also face rising costs and uncertain global markets. Why does this matter to New Zealanders in towns and cities across the country? Almost one-third of New Zealand’s sheep and half our beef cattle are in North Island regions that were subject to a state of emergency following the cyclones. Another third of our sheep, and 14% of our beef cattle are in Otago and Southland. This means two-thirds of both our sheep and our beef cattle are in areas either suffering from the effects of the cyclones or suffering dry conditions. This has a knock-on effect to the wider economy, including businesses that service farms like vets, trucking companies, and shearers. Sheep and beef farmers spend almost ...

Source: Stuff NZ