Groundswell NZ wants farmers and growers to risk a $500 fine for failing to complete Stats NZ’s agricultural census

Groundswell NZ wants farmers to risk a $500 fine for failing to complete Statistics NZ’s agricultural survey.

But Statistics Minister David Clark said having up-to-date agricultural statistics, which are freely available, benefits all New Zealanders.

The farmers protest group wants farmers and growers to boycott the agricultural production census until Statistics NZ agrees to use an emissions measurement based on sound science and a warming effect approach, it says.

The possible fine for not completing the survey is up to $500.

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Bryce McKenzie, the founder of Groundswell NZ, said the boycott was a direct action to pressure the government to reconsider its stubborn commitment to an emissions measure that he felt didn’t work for agriculture or the specific situation of the New Zealand. Zealand economy.

“Groundswell NZ believes that farmers should not be forced to provide data that misrepresents their emissions. We consider this a fair and justifiable protest,” he said.

The emissions measure used in the study, called GWP100, overestimates the impact of agricultural emissions by 400%, as found in a study by an Oxford professor, and is one of the main reasons cited by those seeking to punish farmers and growers for their emissions, he said.

“When it comes to emissions, agriculture is a different kind of activity than the rest of the economy because of the methane replacement cycle,” he said.

“If farmers are expected to meet the government’s 10% reduction target, that would lead to a net cooling effect.”

Statistics Minister David Clark said Stats NZ uses internationally recommended and accepted methods for its greenhouse gas emissions statistics.

Stats NZ did not answer questions about the impact failing to complete the census would have.

A spokesperson for Stats NZ said the aim of the agricultural production census was to collect data on agricultural production and practices to create timely, high-quality and comprehensive national agricultural statistics.

It is held every five years and is administered by Stats NZ in conjunction with the Ministry of Primary Industries

Nearly 60,000 farms are surveyed, including farmers, commercial growers and forest owners.

The survey asks participants about their production, land use and practices for the year 2021-2022 ending June 30, 2022.