increase font size
Federated Farmers has joined the Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord – and at the same time issued a plea to the media.
"I would like to make a special plea to the media on behalf of farmers," says the Feds' Dairy chairperson. "That is for media to invest time to understand what modern dairying is and more importantly, what it is not."
But Leferink also says dairy farmers know they must lift their game on water quality, and farming sustainably is the way ahead – but facts not slogans are needed in the public domain.
"Federated Farmers will make it possible for the media to get on-farm. I know the science of what we do can be hard for the media to portray, let alone when consents, polices and systems are added to the mix....
"That extends to water science where our industry-good body, DairyNZ, is doing fantastic work in 14 catchments. Having met some of their water quality scientists the calibre of talent they have is truly impressive. While water quality scientists, they are also true communicators.
"With water, we need to realise there is no 'one shoe fits all' solution. Each catchment faces different issues demanding different solutions to those issues. We know in Rotorua that the formula, Councils+Farmers+Community = Results, works."
Leferink says the Feds are proud to join the dairy industry's collective effort, the Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord, to lift dairying's overall freshwater performance. It forms part of a cogent strategy that could see dairying double its export value by 2025.
"Federated Farmers' signature on the new water accord is the individual farmer's commitment to do all we can to protect the water quality in our streams and rivers," says Leferink.
"As dairy farmers we have to lift our game on water quality. If we want to meet the aspirations we have as an industry. If we want to meet government expectations and earn the respect of the wider community, then farming sustainably is the way ahead.
"As Federated Farmers we know that success won't be measured by our leading farmers or even those in the peloton. It will hinge on how we can successfully lift the farming and environmental performance of our lower performing farmers.
"Those two go hand-in-hand because livestock thrive only with good quality water."
However Leferink says it is not all down to the dairy farmers. "To succeed we need a joined-up effort made up of councils, dairy companies, fertiliser companies in concert with local businesses and local communities."
OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to highlight the most troublesome farm pests – a serious issue that needs some urgent attention from the Beehive.
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.
Virtual fencing and herding systems supplier, Halter is welcoming a decision by the Victorian Government to allow farmers in the state to use the technology.
DairyNZ’s latest Econ Tracker update shows most farms will still finish the season in a positive position, although the gap has narrowed compared with early season expectations.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says a new report projects strong export growth for New Zealand's horticulture sector highlights the industry's increasing contribution to the national economy.
Fonterra shareholders say they will be keeping an eye on their co-operative's performance after the sale of its consumer businesses.
T&G Global says its 2025 New Zealand apple season has delivered higher returns for growers, reflecting strong global consumer demand and pricing across its Envy and Jazz apple brands.
New Zealand's primary sector is set to reach a record $62 billion in food and fibre exports next year.
A new levying body, currently with the working title of NZWool, has been proposed to secure the future of New Zealand's strong wool sector.
The most talked about, economically transformational pieces of legislation in a generation have finally begun their journey into the statute books.
President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on imports into the US is doing good things for global trade, according…
Seen a giant cheese roll rolling along Southland’s roads?
