Federated Farmers vows to hold banks accountable after complaint dismissed
Federated Farmers is vowing to keep the big banks accountable for their actions and to continue pushing for meaningful change in the rural lending sector.
Farmers in Canterbury have until next Friday to submit on a plan that has potential to severely limit their freedom to farm.
Submissions on the region's Land and Water Regional Plan close Friday (October 5) and several representative bodies are raising concerns about the complex proposals.
"We will be submitting on the land use change percentage in particular," says Federated Farmers' Willy Leferink. "If your nutrient losses change by 10%, that will require a consent. That means a sheep farmer losing 4kg of N/year going to 4.5kg would require a consent. That's unacceptable."
Much of the implementation will come down to limits set by zone committees from 2017.
"We've told farmers get involved with those committees and make sure they have the best possible information to make the best possible decisions."
Irrigation New Zealand chief executive Andrew Curtiss is particularly concerned at the "arbitrary" numbers applied to water transfers which will see 25% or 50% of consent volumes lost in over-allocated zones.
He's also concerned the plan is too focussed on nitrogen, and the reliance on the Overseer nutrient management model. "We'll be advocating for farm plans and audited self management: targets and best practice rather than allocations of N."
Submissions close October 5. See www.ecan.govt.nz
New Zealand milk production is off to a strong start, with the first month of the 2025/26 dairy season recording a whopping 17.8% jump in milk production, compared to the previous season.
With adverse weather set to rain down on the Top of the South, the Bay of Plenty and parts of Northland, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers, foresters, and growers need to prepare for possible challenges.
Keep up with innovation and e-commerce in China or risk losing market share. That was the message delivered at the China Business Summit in Auckland this month.
Meat Industry Association (MIA) independent chair Nathan Guy says getting meat processors involved has been a shot in the arm for the sector's key marketing initiative into China, Taste Pure Nature.
Listed carpet manufacturer, Bremworth is undertaking a $6 million expansion at its Napier plant more than two years after the site was heavily damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Federated Farmers is vowing to keep the big banks accountable for their actions and to continue pushing for meaningful change in the rural lending sector.
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