increase font size
Fonterra chair John Monaghan.
Fonterra is rejecting a Government proposal for five-metre fencing setbacks on all dairy farms.
Co-op chairman John Monaghan points out farmer shareholders pledged six years ago to fully fence defined waterways on every farm.
“Within 24 months, more than 90% of those waterways were fenced,” he said.
“It’s something we should all be proud of. Instead this proposal punishes us for being proactive with little added benefit and at huge cost.
“Pulling down fences and making farmers start again shouldn’t be a priority.”
In a note to farmer shareholders last week, Monaghan described the proposed five-metre fencing setbacks as “unacceptable”.
Also unacceptable to the co-op is the Government’s proposal to set ‘bottom lines’ for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN).
Monaghan believes the bottom lines for nitrogen and phosphorus in rivers need to be tailored.
“The proposal must consider local contexts or ambitions, and should be backed up by analysis of the economic cost to individual farmers, our communities and wider regional economies,” he said.
“In the current proposal, farms in some parts of New Zealand would have to make nitrogen reductions in excess of 50%. We would expect robust analysis to justify this decision.”
Monaghan says Fonterra supports the Government’s overall goal to improve freshwater.
“Every dairy farmer understands the importance of freshwater to our businesses and our communities,” he says. “We all know NZ can have both healthy freshwater and a thriving agricultural economy.”
But he wants people to take the emotion out of the debate and make these critical decisions based on science, data and facts.
“There is a lot of emotion on all sides of this debate, and rightly so. New Zealanders are passionate about the environment. But at the end of the day we all want the same thing: clean, thriving freshwater existing alongside a thriving farming economy.
“There are a number of proposals we support and we will work with you to help you meet these.”
In particular, Fonterra welcomes the Government’s acknowledgement of the value of farm environment plans (FEPs).
It wants the Government to go further and make them mandatory for all farmers and growers. About 23% of Fonterra farmers already have a FEP tailored to help them farm within environmental limits.
“Continuing to help farmers get FEPs to identify improvement areas will be far more effective in restoring freshwater quality,” Monaghan said.
Fonterra's commitment
• Farm within regional environmental limits
• Encourage strong environmental farming practices
• Reduce water use and improve wastewater quality at manufacturing plants
• Work together on waterway health
• Invest in science and innovation to find new solutions
• Make the products people value most.
OPINION: There is zero chance that someone who joined Fonterra as a lobbyist, then served as a general manager of Fonterra's nutrient management programme, and sat on the board of Export NZ, a division of lobbyist group Business New Zealand, doesn't understand that local butter (and milk and cheese) prices are set by the international commodity price.
Kiwis love their butter, and that's great because New Zealand produces some of the best butter in the world. But when the price of butter goes up, it's tough for some, particularly when many other grocery staples have also gone up and the heat goes on co-operative Fonterra, the country's main butter maker. Here the co-op explains why butter prices are so high right now.
An A$2 billion bid for Fonterra's Oceania business would be great news, according to Forsyth Barr senior analyst, equities, Matt Montgomerie.
The world's largest dairy company may be in pole position to acquire Fonterra's Australian assets.
Over 85% of Fonterra farmer suppliers will be eligible for customer funding up to $1,500 for solutions designed to drive on-farm efficiency gains and reduce emissions intensity.
One of New Zealand’s largest fertiliser plants could be forced to shut down for four months as uncertainty looms over gas supply.
Federated Farmers North Canterbury president Bex Green says two public meetings held this week should have made it loud and clear that rural families and businesses are concerned about proposed staffing changes at NZ Police.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is consulting on a proposal to ban weedkillers containing chlorthal-dimethyl (DCPA).
August 6 marks Farm Worker Appreciation Day, a moment to recognise the dedication and hard mahi of dairy farm workers across Aotearoa - and DairyNZ is taking the opportunity to celebrate the skilled teams working on its two research farms.
OPINION: The Government has been seeking industry feedback on its proposed amendments to a range of Resource Management Act (RMA) national direction instruments.
A Taupo company says it's the first to bring CO₂-powered water heating technology to New Zealand dairy sheds, helping farmers cut energy costs by up to 85%.
OPINION: Your old mate's ear has been chewed off recently by farmers voicing their displeasure with the National Party, particularly…
OPINION: Your old mate hears that at a recent China Business Summit, PM Christopher Luxon delivered a none-too-subtle "could try…
