fbpx
Print this page
Friday, 16 November 2012 16:25

HortNZ backs Carter’s One Plan comments

Written by 

Horticulture New Zealand and the Tararua Growers Association welcome the sensible words of Primary Industries Minister David Carter concerned about the estimated cost of a recent Environment Court decision on farmers and growers.

 

The minister has rejected comments from the Horizons Regional Council suggesting research commissioned by the Ministry for Primary Industries is inaccurate.

"In our experience, MPI doesn't make a habit of buying inaccurate research," HortNZ chief executive Peter Silcock (pictured) says.

"If their report says there is the potential for farming profits to drop by up to 43% thanks to the conditions applied by Horizons and the Environment Court, then that's exactly what the potential is.

"The growers HortNZ represents, right up and down New Zealand, are very, very worried by the Horizons One Plan, and we will continue to argue their case as long as we can.

"Thankfully the Minister appears to support our efforts and that will give great heart to all our growers.

"Just yesterday, with the release of the third and final report from the Land and Water Forum, we had many, many groups that don't make a habit of agreeing with each other urging the Government to push on with a ground-breaking opportunity to bring in a new wide-ranging fresh water management approach.

"What a shame this attitude couldn't quite reach to the Horizons region," Silcock says.

As some of the first and worst affected farmers by the Horizons One Plan, the Tararua Growers Association adds its strong support to the Minister's comments.

"The Horizons chairman can tell growers and farmers to remain calm, but it's impossible for us to stay calm when our businesses are under such a threat," says Terry Olsen, potato grower and TGA chairman.

"As the MPI report correctly shows, our growers face up to a 43% drop in profit because of the One Plan. That will mean many growers will go out of business, jobs will be lost throughout the Manawatu, and inevitably people everywhere will be paying a lot more for their vegetables.

"That's nothing to be calm about."

More like this

Food security crucial

Hort NZ chair Barry O'Neil says food supply and security is fundamental to New Zealand's future.

How hort fared in 2023

For the country's horticultural sector, it's been a year that started off with the worst weather imaginable. It also had plenty of drama and intrigue and ended up with us getting a new tri-party government that has collectively promised to fix everything! Peter Burke reports.

Optimism grows

HorticultureNZ chair Barry O'Neil believes the mood in the sector is more positive than it's been all year.

Featured

Sheep drench resistance costly

Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

AGTEK and ARGO part ways

After 12 years of representing the Landini and McCormick brands in New Zealand, Bay of Plenty-based AGTEK and the brands’…

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…