increase font size
The primary sector has laid out the five key issues they want acted on during the first 100 days of the new Government.
While the new Coalition Government hopes to make fast progress in its first 100 days on key commitments made during the election campaign, farmers are hoping that ministers are clear about the primary sector’s priorities.
Leaders of Federated Farmers, Beef + Lamb NZ and DairyNZ have agreed their five key advocacy priorities over the next three months. These five priorities are all included in the coalition agreements agreed by National, ACT and NZ First.
Priority 1 is the repeal and replace the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM). This policy statement is a direction from David Parker to Regional Councils to set rules on farmers to meet new national bottom lines for freshwater and give effect to ‘Te Mana O Te Wai’.
Feds president Wayne Langford says a recent report has shown the new standards are unachievable even in areas of native forest or National Park.
“Plans developed so far need to implement draconian rules to come anywhere near the new standards. For example, Northland has released a draft plan that places restrictions on farming on land over 25 degrees – around 40% of the agricultural land in Northland.”
Priority 2 is establishing the Rural Regulation Review Panel.
“We want to see this up and running and working on cutting red tape and regulatory blocks for irrigation, water storage, managed aquifer recharge, flood protection and simply the day-to-day running of our farms,” notes Langford.
Priority 3 is to start the review of the unscientific methane targets. These are the targets that don’t recognise methane as a short-lived gas and, if achieved, could require a 20% reduction in sheep and beef production.
Priority 4 is to cease implementation of Significant Natural Areas, and Priority 5 is to repeal the last Government’s two resource management acts and start work on replacement legislation. A new RMA will take time to develop so it is important work starts on this right away, says Langford.
He says they are meeting regularly to discuss strategy and priorities to avoid duplication of effort and present a united front to decision makers.
“The new Government has made a range of very useful commitments. We aim to hold them to their agenda and keep them in touch with our united views on key issues,” he says.
OPINION: Recent media commentary from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns among our rural communities, particularly around Environment Southland’s approach to winter grazing inspections and nitrogen reporting. But let’s be clear, much of what’s been said simply doesn’t reflect reality.
OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.
The dairy sector is in a relatively stable position, with strong milk price payout forecasts continuing to offset ongoing high farm costs, according to DairyNZ.
A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown says history shows that when New Zealand needs an economic lift, dairy delivers.
Like many manufacturers around the world, European agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturers are currently operating in a difficult market environment. But they are heading to the world’s largest agricultural machinery event in Hanover next month with a degree of cautious optimism.
Established in 2021, the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards champion the important contribution parts and service technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
OPINION: Ageing lefty Chris Trotter reckons that the decision to delay recognition of Palestinian statehood is more than just a fit…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly recently met someone at a BBQ who works at a big consulting firm who spent…
