Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to part ways with a new pine planting proposal released by the Climate Change Commission last week. 

The proposal comes after the UN asked the Government to come up with a new 2035 Emission’s Reduction Target by February. The Commission’s suggestions would see large areas of farmland used for planting pine trees. 

Farmers say they need the land for productive farmland. 

Federated Farmers Meat & Wool Chair Toby Williams tells Heather du Plessis-Allan the conversion will drive up NZ beef and lamb prices and force the country to become a net food importer. 

“We have to sacrifice everything. We have to sacrifice our nation, our rural people and our rural communities just so we can agree to a piece of paper that was signed in Paris.” 

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