Dairy power
OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.
DairyNZ says it’s backing changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA).
DairyNZ wants it to deliver reduced compliance costs for farmers, increase efficiency and improve environmental outcomes.
Chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says a comprehensive reform of the RMA is long overdue and would be a positive step not only for farmers but all New Zealanders.
“The RMA has become too unpredictable and inefficient for applicants. Farmers will be keen to see this reform deliver a process which is faster, simpler and less costly,” he says.
But unlike Federated Farmers, Mackle believes that potentially replacing the RMA with two separate pieces of legislation for environment and planning makes a lot of sense. He says it will deliver better outcomes for farm environments, which face different issues than our urban counterparts and believes that a separate environment act would also support clear and efficient environmental rule settings.
“The proposal for each region to put forward a combined development plan has some merit. A regional view could support better decision-making on issues such as the appropriate use of land to lock up carbon and the opportunities to support land use flexibility through new irrigation,” he says.
Mackle says DairyNZ wants all political parties to reflect seriously on these recommendations and to work quickly on achieving meaningful reform in the next term of Parliament.
Fonterra says the US continues to be an important market for New Zealand dairy and the co-op.
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand's trade interests are best served in a world where trade flows freely.
New Zealand's red meat sector says it is disappointed by the United States' decision to impose tariffs on New Zealand exports.
OPINION: Farmers nationwide will be rubbing their hands with glee at the latest news from the Government about the RMA reforms.
Holstein Friesian NZ and Link Livestock have agreed on a strategic partnership to provide HFNZ members with comprehensive services from one of New Zealand's most respected dairy men.
Rural retailer Farmlands has launched a new casual clothing range available across 42 stores nationwide and through its online store.
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OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.