Agriculture Minister David Carter will investigate complaints that MAF staff have been intimidating dairy farmers in Southland during random animal welfare farm checks.

More than 20 farmers in the region have complained of inappropriate behaviour by MAF officials during inspections over the past month.

Mr. Carter was alerted to the complaints on Thursday at Federated Farmers’ annual conference in Invercargill.

He says he doesn’t condone inappropriate behaviour by MAF staff and will investigate the complaints.

Also at the conference down south, the Emissions Trading Scheme has come under fire.

The Feds are fiercely opposed to the ETS which comes into effect on 1 July, saying it will cost farmers and the economy too much.

With the controversial scheme due to take effect next week, Federated Farmers spokesperson Lachlan McKenzie says Agriculture Minister David Carter has now agreed to supply farmers with how the government’s come up with its costing for the Emissions Trading Scheme.