Agriculture given emissions reprieve

Agriculture would not become part of the Emissions Trading Scheme in 2013 if National was re-elected this November, Prime Minister John Key said at the opening ceremony of the 43rd New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays this week.
"Agriculture will not enter the scheme until it is clear our trading partners are taking climate change seriously," he said atthe ceremony, which was attended by embassy representatives from 18 of those partners, regional and national politicians, Fieldays officials and the public.
"We will not put pressure down on the farm with increases which cannot be mitigated or passed on. Farmers are already paying (towards the scheme) through petrol, diesel and power prices."
Mr Key said the world was hungry for food and primary products and in particular those produced by New Zealand.
"New Zealand exporters sold more to China in the eight hours we were asleep last night than they did in all of 1972."
India also offered significant opportunity for New Zealand and Mr Key says it is hoped a free trade agreement will be signed with that nation within 12 months.
Mr Key said New Zealand was increasingly able to meet growing demand because of innovation and science. He pointed out that while the country now had half as many sheep as in the past, its farmers had doubled output.
Improved returns for New Zealand primary produce was good news but strong commodity prices and a weak US economy were pushing up the value of the New Zealand dollar which, in turn, impacted on farm and orchard gate returns.
"All we can do is to keep interest rates as low as possible," Mr Key said.
Wednesday, the first day of the event, attracted 26,467 visitors - a 1 per cent increase on the previous year.
Ag Fieldays chairman Warwick Roberts felt visitors were optimistic, suggesting a move towards more confident spending.
"The past couple years have been focused on surviving. The outlook is promising this year, so productive investments and deferred maintenance are likely to be addressed."
Among the companies happy with the first day was Onsite Housing which builds self-sufficient off-the-grid building with no reliance on public utility services for electricity, phone and water. On Wednesday, the company sold 27 buildings, nine to one buyer.
With more than 1000 exhibitors at Fieldays, there is plenty to explore. Fieldays continue until tomorrow at Mystery Creek Events Centre, 10 minutes south of Hamilton.