No need for capital gains tax – experts – Andrea Fox:
Labour’s proposal to introduce a capital gains tax will reduce farmland values and add a new layer of bureaucracy but will give farm business succession planning a positive boost, tax experts say.
However, mostly it would simply duplicate taxes already enshrined in income tax law, they said.
Labour’s election policy promotes a capital gains tax from 2016 on property sales, including farmland, though not the farm family home.
The party is targeting property speculators in the housing market, but farmers would be affected. . . .
We’re mobile milking – Milking on the Moove:
I’ve been milking for 3 weeks now and it’s been a hectic 3 weeks. I’ve finally got a moment for a quick update.
I’m really happy with how the cowshed is operating. The second hand milking plant runs really well, the cows are walking on to the cowshed happily & I’ve learned how to manoeuvre the cowshed through gateways and up and down hills, while keeping both gateways & the cowshed in one piece.
It’s funny how over the last year I have thought about how to design various parts of the cowshed & pondered every little detail. Yet it only took 10 minutes of the first milking for me realise I had made mistakes with the layout of equipment etc.”>I’ll be honest, the first milking did not go to plan. I have bought 7 Heifer cows. They had just calved and they have never being milked before let alone on a mobile trailer with no yards to contain them. . .
Environment research focus for red meat sector – Sue O’Dowd:
An organisation funded by the country’s sheep and beef farmers is doing its best to help them deal with the juggernaut that is the environment, says a director.
Beef+Lamb NZ (B+L NZ) director Kirsten Bryant was addressing this week’s annual meeting of the Western North Island Farmer Council (WNIFC) in Stratford.
Increasingly, B+L NZ was turning its attention to helping farmers manage the challenges of the environment.
“It’s like digging a hole and throwing money into it,” she said.
“But it’s not a conversation we can avoid. We want outcomes that are great for sheep and beef farmers and to show leadership around environmental responsibilities.” . . .
WEL change opens door to PWC shareholding – Jackie Harrigan:
Wool Growers are no longer the only group allowed to own shares in wool investment holding company Wool Equities Ltd (WEL).
A special WEL meeting on Friday changed the constitution to allow share ownership by any entity engaged in wool activities, including woolgrowers, grower groups, trading entities, and wool processors.
The change was sought to allow WEL to issue 5% of its equity to grower group Primary Wool Co-operative (PWC) for $50,000. . .
– Gerald Piddock:
King Country rural professional James Bryan will travel to the United States next month after being selected as an ambassador at this year’s Five Nations Beef Alliance conference and young leaders programme.
Bryan beat 13 other applicants to win the Beef + Lamb New Zealand scholarship, which covered the full cost of travelling to and attending the conference, to be held in Corpus Christi and Austin, Texas in October.
The scholarship is offered annually to New Zealanders aged 22-32, who are working in, and have a passion for, the beef industry. . .
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