As more and more compliance costs load up on farmers you have to ask aren't these just a part of running what are in many cases large scale businesses?  And isn't their continued complaint about these costs just turning the urban sector, who face some pretty big compliance costs of their own, off?

Everyone has to fill out the many forms the IRD sends them and comply with ACC rules and regulations. Property oweners all pay rates whether they're living in an inner city apartment or a high country station. While the Resource Management Act(RMA) may apply more specifically to farmers  they most certainly affect city dwellers wanting to, for example, trim branches off the native tree blocking their view or sun.

While most farmers can put a figure on the benefits they can gain from the continued or improved running of their businesses after receiving a resource consent urban dwellers can find it very hard to quantify what they might gain other than quality of life and improved property values should they wish to sell. But they still pay the costs.

There seems to be a growing view amongst townies that when it comes to rules and regulations farmers should just get on with meeting them the same as the rest of the population do.

With the clean, green image that this country relies on to such as great extent for export income urban dwellers well and truly play their part through the amount of tax they pay. Subsidising farmers to keep the countryside appealling to overseas tourists while they earn income from their products would be a penalty too far.

With the Emissions Trading Scheme there's some sympathy for farmers, but urban dwellers will face costs loaded on to fuel later this year just the same as farmers will. The farming lobby has won some generous concessions when it comes to direct costs to agriculture and there's still every chance the scheme will be modified or even scrapped as has happened in Australia.

More costs are coming - especially with the creation of structures like the new Auckland supercity, and soon to come water reform.  While no sector likes it much they all need to play their part - and pay their share.