Northland farmers losing time and money to poor internet
The lack of quality internet coverage in Northland is costing farmers time and money, says Federated Farmers Northland president Colin Hannah.
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.
While opening the first electrode boiler at its Edendale site, Fonterra has announced a $70 million investment in two further new electrode boilers.
Fonterra says its ongoing legal battle with Australian processor Bega Cheese won’t change its divestment plans.
With an amendment to the Medicines Act proposing human medicines could be approved in 30 days if the product has approval from two recognised overseas jurisdictions, there’s a call for a similar approach to be applied to animal medicines.
The Government wants to make sure that rural communities get a level of service that people who live in cities often complacently expect.
As the New Zealand Government launches negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with India, one Canterbury-based vegetable seed breeder is already benefiting from exporting to the world's fifth-largest economy.
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