Govt to rethink farm health and safety rules with practical reforms
Farmers are welcoming new Government proposals to make farm health and safety rules more practical and grounded in real-world farming.
Sheep and beef farmers say they are not trying to dodge their health and safety responsibilities.
Beef + Lamb NZ chairman James Parsons says there's been a lot of noise about health and safety and the Government's amendments to the Health and Safety Reform Bill.
"We've been pointing out to government that farmers need workable and sensible legislation so it was good to see that sheep and beef farms, which on average employ fewer than two full time people, won't be required to elect a health and safety rep," he says.
Last week Workplace Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse released a list of 57 high risk industries which would require health and safety representatives even where there are fewer than 20 staff.
The new classifications have been heavily mocked with worm farms and mini golf courses being defined as "high risk" while dairy and cattle farms are not.
But Parsons says by not classifying agriculture as a "high risk" sector by no means lets us off easy and assertions that our sector is trying to dodge our health and safety responsibilities are completely unfounded.
"Some commentary that has described farming as one of the worst industries for work place deaths based on total fatalities does not take account of the scale of the sector. When you divide the serious accidents by the total number of farming workers, then our health and safety record is suddenly brought into context.
"There are a number of areas we will continue to work with the Government and WorkSafe New Zealand on – in particular finding a workable solution to quadbike use. We are working closely with Federated Farmers and DairyNZ on this and other issues. It is important that farmers continue to individually talk with politicians across the floor so there are no last minute changes to the legislation."
According to ASB, Fonterra's plan to sell it's Anchor and Mainlands brands could inject $4.5 billion in additional spending into the economy.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.

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