New Zealand Farm Forestry Association today confirms feedback from its membership following the climate change consultation process late last year is very similar to the results of a survey released by Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc.)

“The Kyoto Protocol will have a double whammy effect for us both from agriculture and forestry, ”, said Farm Forestry Association President Mike Halliday.

“The results of this survey mirror very closely feedback I have received from our own 3,000 members nation-wide.”

The New Zealand Farm Forestry Association in its climate change submission late last year submitted that many farm foresters were very effectively balancing their livestock methane emissions by putting part of their farm into plantation forestry.

“The uncertainty in the emissions from farming and the uncertainty of how or even if farm foresters can offset their farm emissions with their forest sinks is not helping farm foresters support the Kyoto Protocol,” said Mr Halliday.

“There is a strong possibility that the proposed cure may well be worse for the economy than the ailment.” concluded Mr Halliday.

The Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc.) survey of its members had the following results:

96.2% of farmers surveyed opposed the Government ratifying the Kyoto Protocol whilst significant uncertainties remain in New Zealand agriculture’s contribution to climate change,

96.8% of farmers surveyed opposed the Government ratifying the Kyoto Protocol without having first worked out its strategy to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.

96.4% of farmers surveyed opposed the Government ratifying the Kyoto Protocol before our key trading partners.

ENDS

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