Farmers willing to take Prime Minister's challenge

Federated Farmers hosted the Hon John Key MP, for the Prime Minister’s luncheon as part of the Federation’s 2010 National Conference in Invercargill. The US Ambassador, David Huebner as well as Eric Roy MP, Mayors Frana Cardno, Tim Shadbolt and Tracy Hicks were also in attendance.

“The Prime Minister gave over 200 guests his undivided attention and Federated Farmers gave him the same respect in return,” says Don Nicolson, Federated Farmers President.

“I think we made it clear to him that the Federation was willing to swallow some chocolate rats if there was an admission the emissions trading scheme (ETS) is out of step with a world looking to post-Kyoto solutions.

“I think the decision of new Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gilliard, to keep Australia’s ETS on ice until 2013 is highly instructive.

“It’s telling that when a member pointed out farmers were not climate deniers but that only the European Union and New Zealand have an operative ETS, that the Prime Minister responded by inflating the number of countries by those who are in the EU’s ETS.

“That said he was incredibly good natured and even offered an out for farmers if we wouldn’t complain about changing weather. I think if that was a serious offer he’d be swamped by takers.

“Yet what touched me was an older farmer who felt depressed the denigration of farming, especially dairy, is turning off young talented Kiwis. He was saddened that his grandson was reluctant to talk up dairy farming at school.

“At least the Prime Minister had the fortitude to say that most farmers do care about animal welfare, do care about the environment and do care about the future.

“Yet I think we all have a challenge not to blow things out of perspective, to tar farming’s good name by the actions of a small minority.

“On that basis we feel the Prime Minister is in an optimal position to talk up the New Zealand farming industry and we look forward to working with him,” Mr Nicolson concluded.