Waihi Dairy Farmer Fined $39,000 for Dairy Effluent Breaches
A Waihi dairy farmer, Keith Torrens, has been convicted and fined $39,000 for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent following a prosecution taken by Waikato Regional Council.
However, Environment Southland’s message to farmers is: start pulling together the information for farm plans now.
So, what should farmers do? Stop work on their respective farm plans or carry on as urged by ES?
This confusion isn’t helping the farming sector. The Government must move quickly with changes to the Resource Management Act that will put a stop to councils like ES working on freshwater farm plans, already a requirement in the Southland Water and Land Plan.
Everyone agrees that we need a farm plan system that is practical and cost-effective and based on specific farm conditions. So, why the confusion?
