It's vital that farmers have their say on one of the biggest decisions facing agriculture this decade; how on-farm emissions will be priced from 2025, industry groups say.
In 2019 the government announced the sector would have to start paying for emissions from 2025, and the industry was given time to develop a way to measure and price them.
Industry partnership He Waka Eke Noa - which includes groups such as DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb NZ - has come up with two options to pay for emissions and is set to put them to farmers in a nationwide roadshow, starting next week.
The roadshow is going ahead in the red Covid traffic light setting to ensure full participation by farmers but the schedule has been revised and important health and safety measures will be in place to ensure the wellbeing of attendees and speakers.
While it was a "big call" to continue under Red restrictions, the reason for the roadshow was too important to postpone, DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said.
Farmers were still interested in coming along, whether in person under strict Covid guidelines or online, Mackle told The Country's Jamie Mackay.
DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle. Photo / Supplied
"We've talked to farmers ... and certainly there's a number that still want to come and talk and some will opt out and use the online approach.
"The overriding issue is this is a big, big deal for us and we know from feedback from farmers that they do want to engage face to face and talk it out."
Farmers were also stuck between "a rock and a hard place" as legislative deadlines were looming, Mackle said.
"If we don't hit them, we end up in the ETS."
He Waka Eke Noa has proposed two options for farmers to consider.
1. A farm-level levy 2. A processor-level hybrid levy
The Government has legislated that agricultural emissions will enter the NZ ETS if an effective, workable alternative is not put forward by the Partnership.
Climate Change Minister James Shaw has said a serious price signal was the best tool the Government had to reduce emissions.
