By Don Nicolson, President, Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers has a major role to play as the most influential lobby group for farmers. And the lobbying function has been in overdrive this month with intense political lobbying from Federation leaders on the emissions trading scheme.

Maintaining a balance is vital.

This debate has always a political argument rather than a scientific one.

The emissions trading scheme was supposed to encourage change in behaviour; changes that instilled better resource use. It is mystifying that at the eleventh hour minor political parties have negotiated a subsidy to offset the emissions trading scheme’s cost to every household. Instead of saving the planet it seems that income redistribution is the legislative motive. It will be both hardworking New Zealanders and the environment that are the losers in this scheme.

Federated Farmers has said many times before that it is pointless taxing New Zealand’s very efficient food production systems so that less efficient, non-taxed food producers elsewhere in the world gain a competitive advantage.

One of the major reasons Federated Farmers opposes including pastoral agriculture in an emissions trading scheme is because at present there are no remedies or solutions that will make a difference.

The science just isn’t there for New Zealand farmers to make changes to reduce emissions. At the moments the only way to reduce emissions is to reduce stock rates. And what will that do to a country that relies on food production as a major export and contributor to the economy?

Research into new technologies that could reduce on-farm emissions is essential to enable New Zealand farming’s reputation as world’s best practice to continue, but research takes time and money.

Federated Farmers believes that research into the causes of climate change should also be undertaken to ensure a good understanding of the issues and what measures can or should be undertaken.

Federated Farmers has and will continue to work with the government to ensure that there is no misunderstanding as to the effects of any future regulations. And the Federation will remain steadfast in its determination to get some common sense and practical solutions to the mess that this legislation creates.

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