Federated Farmers will not accept emissions pricing on farmers in any form, and rejects the Opportunity Party’s 35 to 47% methane target and cap and trade plan.

Climate change spokesman Richard Dawkins says they back the government’s lower target instead.

“When you actually consider the warming impact of methane, they recommended that 14 to 24% reduction,” he says.

“If others aren’t playing their part, then we fall to the lower end of that scale.

“So it’s about no further warming and actually playing our part, but not going even further and handicapping ourselves.”

He says pricing the world’s most efficient food producers would only push food prices higher, at a time when the cost of food is voters’ top concern.

The sector went through emissions pricing under He Waka Eke Noa already, and Dawkins says it will not go back.

“It was an absolute low point for our industry. People’s morale was rock bottom because of what was being designed on their behalf.”

“New Zealand farmers are world leaders at responding to market incentives… If the market’s demanding it, then we sure as hell will get on board,” he says.

“We’re not even entertaining the conversation.”

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.

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