Levelling the grazing paddock

• Published in: Policy Quarterly Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 40 - 45
• Main Authors: Joy, Mike, Marriott, Lisa, Chapple, Simon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 06.11.2022
• Subjects: Agricultural intensification; Agricultural pollution; Agricultural subsidies; Agriculture; Agriculture and state; Environmental aspects; Greenhouse gases; Livestock; Nitrates; Nitrogen in agriculture; Taxation; New Zealand
• ISSN: 2324-1101; 2324-1098; 2324-1101
• DOI: 10.26686/pq.v18i4.8015

Illuminates the financial contribution made to New Zealand by the primary sector in terms of taxes paid to government. Contrasts this contribution with direct and indirect financial benefits received by the primary sector from government including subsidies, concessions and other forms of assistance not provided to other industries. Provides examples of indirect subsidies currently provided to intensive farming that shift costs from farmers to NZ taxpayers. Proposes a ‘radical solution’ to pay polluters to stop polluting, as is already being done in Taupō and Rotorua, where taxpayers and ratepayers have been paying farmers in lake catchments to de-stock. Suggests some form of sliding scale of payment be adopted for agricultural landowners. Provides an example from the Netherlands, where the government announced a plan to buy out farmers to reduce nitrogen pollution by cutting the numbers of pigs, cows and chickens. Source: National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, licensed by the Department of Internal Affairs for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand Licence.