Farmers ‘need fair reward’

Press, 6 May 1980, Page 12

Farmers ‘need fair reward’

Production will increase only if farming: is profitable, according to Mr R. M. Wells, a former chairmgn of the agricultural section of North - Canterbury Federated Farmers. Not many farmers would increase production for patriotic reasons only, he told the section’s annual conference. Farms were not unreasonable in expecting a fair reward for their effort and investment, he said. But in the last three years - grain growers could not accept that this had been so. Farmers were the vic-,

tims of a high and increasing inflation rate and the cost-plus system. Both on-farm and off-farm costs had been rising faster than returns. “I cannot see -farmers accepting a nearly nil margin of profit in supplying malting barley or fee grains for another year,” said Mr Wells..

The season had been disastrous for grain and small-seeds growers. Rain, wind, and lack of sun during the summer had spoiled what had started out as an excellent growing season.