Raising the coverage of cows photographed in a North Canterbury Lake, Hoggard said that «as usual» this had prompted online criticism of farming and dairying in particular.
With every decrease in the dairy payout «these same heroic individuals hiding behind pseudonyms come out with comments that generally state something along the lines of ‘good, serves them right for wrecking our rivers’.
«I have to question whether these people have actually seen any rivers.»
On a group tour of the Nelson region on Tuesday, «the only place I wouldn’t have wanted to drink out of a river was just below where the freedom campers were parked up beside it», Hoggard said.
«My kids swim in the river beside my farm all the time.»
Farming had an impact on water quality and the industry needed to keep working on that, he said. But the debate was getting «slightly hysterical at times, with claims that our rivers are ruined and you can’t swim in any of them».
«This is plainly not true.»
New Zealand dairy farmers had invested an estimated $1 billion on environmental initiatives in the past decade, he said, without any of the support payments available in Europe.
It was Europe’s business if it wanted a social welfare system loaded with beneficiaries.
«It becomes our business when that system has deep negative and distorting events on world trade.
«For all those people who sponsor a child in the developing world, shop in Trade Aid stores, or generally just feel bad when they see news stories about suffering in the developing world – the highly subsidised and protected nature of the global food trade are a key factor in holding back development.»
Farming was referred to as a primary industry because it was often «first cab off the rank» with a nation’s development, and provided the foundation for other industries.
«When developed countries have policies that result in low global prices they effectively block the development of other nations, and having a few aid concerts and starting a hash-tag doesn’t make up for it.»
Hoggard said an international level playing field would also benefit New Zealand farmers and he might be called self-serving, but this issue had been the focus of international political discussion for decades.
He wasn’t calling for subsidies or support for Kiwi farmers «in any shape or fashion».
«What I am saying is that our Government should be asking the hard questions internationally and as countries bring forward policy proposals, we need to be vocal when those ideas will impact negatively on us.»
While a free trade agreement with Europe «would be nice», farmers needed to stand up for themselves in the meantime.
«It’s not like my counterparts in Europe or the US are reticent in making their opinions known, so why the hell should I be?»
Overseas consumers saw New Zealand products as safe and produced to high standards, and farmers had to a degree rested on their laurels. They had invested heavily in food quality and safety and needed to «better brand the New Zealand story».
«At times Fonterra fills me with hope, and then fills me with doubt. Its communication with farmers on what it’s doing and why needs to improve dramatically.»
Hoggard said dairying was subject to cyclical forces and at some point, prices would rise.
«The fundamentals remain unchanged. A growing population and a growing middle class will lead to greater demand. We just also need to deal with the fact that unless structural changes happen, volatility will also remain.»
Source: Stuff
