Thursday, 05 August 2021 09:55

Editorial: The right time for consultation?

Written by  Staff Reporters
The Government announced recently that it will consult further with farmers on freshwater farm plans. The Government announced recently that it will consult further with farmers on freshwater farm plans.

OPINION: Farmers should be relieved that the Government is consulting on the changes it has made on the freshwater farm plans.

They have after all admitted they or their officials made some stupid mistakes around the issue of stock exclusion and the original slope maps, which would have seen beef farmers just about fencing streams up to the snowline on their farms.

To be fair, the changes that the Government has made at east show that common sense is starting to come to the fore.

But in a world where there is general distrust been farmers and government, the question remains how this will all play out. For example, will the ‘greenies’ cry foul that the changes are too soft on farmers and will the Government hold the line or take more logical advice from the rural community?

It is evident from what DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb NZ are saying publicly that they are concerned farmers are not getting credit for the good work being done on farm.

DairyNZ wants to see the framework acknowledge work already done by farmers and ensure it doesn’t add time pressures on-farm or complications within regional plans.

DairyNZ strategy and investment leader Dr David Burger notes that dairy farmers are committed to improving water quality. A lot of work is already underway on farms, including 3,400 existing Farm Environment Plans.

“But doubling up on work and compounding that with short timeframes will put too much pressure on farmers. Recognising existing planning is crucial because farmers are already overwhelmed with too many regulations, coming in too hard and fast,” Burger warns.

There are many journalists in the so-called ‘lamestream’ media who simply don’t get or don’t want to acknowledge this either, judging by some of the grossly inaccurate opinion pieces some of them write.

But what has not been highlighted is the fact that the consultation period is during the busy weeks of July to early September.

Have the Wellington-based policy wonks never heard of calving and lambing? Do they know that spring is the busiest time of the year for farmers where 14 hour days are the norm? This timing of the consultation period seriously compromises farmers’ ability to engage, and again shows how disconnected Wellington is from rural New Zealand.

Arguably there is never a good time for consultation, but picking the busiest time of the year to engage with farmers displays either ignorance or, worse, bad faith.

More like this

NZ growers lead freshwater compliance

Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says that commercial fruit and vegetable growers are getting ahead of freshwater farm plan regulations through its Growing Change project.

Editorial: Long overdue!

OPINION: The Government's latest move to make freshwater farm plans more practical and affordable is welcome, and long overdue.

Featured

Every vote will count - Alliance chair

An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.

John Deere technician's record hat trick

Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.

Australia develops first local mRNA FMD vaccine

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.

National

All eyes on NZ milk supply

All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.

Machinery & Products

Amazone unveils flagship spreader

With the price of fertiliser still significantly higher than 2024, there is an increased onus on ensuring its spread accurately at…

Leader balers arrive in NZ

Officially launched at the National Fieldays event in June, the Leader in-line conventional PRO 1900 balers are imported and distributed…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Full cabinet

OPINION: Legislation being drafted to bring back the controversial trade of live animal exports by sea is getting stuck in the…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter