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OPINION: For thousands of Southland farmers, this week would have tipped them into the non-compliant category when it comes to following regional freshwater plan rules. But the Government has stepped in to give them the clarity they deserve.
The Southland Water and Land Plan (Regional Plan) currently requires farmers to prepare and submit a farm plan by 27 May 2026, before improvements to the national freshwater farm plan system are finalised.
Cabinet has agreed Southland farmers and growers will now have until the end of November 2027 to submit their farm plan and benefit from the updated system.
Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard points out that Southland farmers were staring down a May 2026 deadline to submit farm plans under the current regional system.
That would have meant wasting time and money on a whole lot of complex paperwork that simply won’t be needed under our updated national rules.
Hoggard defines this as pointless bureaucracy. But the Government announcement means farmers won’t spend time and money complying with old rules when better ones are on the way.
As part of its review of freshwater rules and their impact on farming, the Government is introducing a slimmed-down system that strips back the most frustrating parts, like overly bureaucratic land blocking and mapping.
The Government must be commended for extending the timeframe for Southland farmers to submit freshwater farm plans.
This sensible decision will ensure what Southlanders need to do is aligned with the requirements for farmers in other regions as the new system comes into effect – giving them confidence to continue to produce highquality food and fibre.
Burdensome regulations should not be holding back our farmers and growers.
OPINION: While we're on the topic of lumberjacks, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has no doubt used a chainsaw hundreds of times, but your old mate reckons he would’ve still been sweating on getting it right when cutting down a pine in front of the cameras, as he did above Queenstown during a recent pre-Budget announcement around extra funding for wilding pine control efforts.
Wilding pines are the wrong tree in the wrong place, and they need to go, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.
Southland farmers staring down a May deadline to submit freshwater farm plans under current regional plan rules have been given an 18-month reprieve by the Government.
Federated Farmers says the Government's announcement of $79 million in funding for wilding pine control marks a major breakthrough.
Rabobank has celebrated the tenth anniversary of its AgPathways Programme, with 23 farmers from Otago and Southland gathering for two-and-a-half days to learn new business management and planning skills.
Two Canadian spraying experts, Tom Wolf and Jason Deveau, are visiting New Zealand in early August to ensure that arable growers are hitting the target with this key piece of equipment.
Otago Southland Young Farmer Tom Slee has been crowned the Season 58 FMG Young Farmer of the Year after an outstanding performance at the Grand Final in New Plymouth, the first time the event has been held in the region.
New Zealand's red meat sector says it welcomes the Government's focus on trade ahead of the general election in November.
Two year 10 students from Putaruru College and John Paul College in Waikato Bay of Plenty have been crowned the 2026 FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year at the competition's Grand Final in New Plymouth.
With the New Zealand/India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) dominating political debate here, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting New Zealand next week.
Michelle and Tony Roberts didn't inherit the farming business they have today. They’ve built it from the ground up.
OPINION: No one messes around with Winston Peters, more so in a general election year.
OPINION: Staying on Federated Farmers, this week's annual general meeting in Auckland is shaping up to be an interesting one.
