Editorial: War's over
OPINION: In recent years farmers have been crying foul of unworkable and expensive regulations.
ACT primary industries spokesperson Mark Cameron has joined the chorus of people asking the Government to hold off on the deadline for farmers to submit their farm environment plans.
He joins Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Federated Farmers and DairyNZ in the call.
“With the November 1st cut off date approaching fast it’s estimated more than 40% of farmers have been unable to get a plan formulated. In the absence of farm environment plans it’ll be up to overworked councils to grant consents for next year’s winter grazing crops,” Cameron says.
He says councils are overworked and under resourced, labelling the assumption they could work through the number of on-farm consents required a “pipe dream”, particularly for farmers in Otago and Southland who are preparing for next year’s winter grazing crops.
“Farm environment plans are an integral part of farming operations, but the resources available to farmers to get them done and the tight timeframes simply don’t make sense.”
Cameron points to the most recent Federated Farmers Farmer Confidence Survey, which recorded the lowest levels of confidence among farmers since the survey’s inception in 2009.
“As a dairy farmer myself, I know that farmers are best environmentalists around. We kept the economy going through COVID. It’s time the Government gave us a break.”
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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