By Monique Steele of RNZ

An industry leader in livestock transport has described price hikes for freight crossing Cook Strait as coming at the worst possible time of year for farmers.

Late autumn marked a busy seasonal period for the movement of livestock between the North and South Islands, particularly for cattle, as dairy farmers approached the end of the season and autumn bulls were sold and moved.

Farmers already struggling with extra fuel and fertiliser costs due to war in the Persian Gulf would face even higher livestock transport bills for crossing the strait.

KiwiRail increased its monthly fuel adjustment factor (FAF) for commercial operators using its Interislander ferry to 54 percent to cover increased fuel costs.…