increase font size
A calf, mortally wounded in a botched poaching incident, has Federated Farmers concerned someone will end up being killed.
"I am outraged," says Katie Milne, Federated Farmers rural security spokesperson and the farmer on whose property the calf was shot.
"Words cannot express my anger. Our calf was shot yesterday morning at 3.15am in a paddock with a prominent 'no shooting' sign in it.
"I presume a poacher mistook our calf for a deer, but who really knows.
"What I do know is this was illegal and bloody dangerous. Our calf, which was on private property, was shot from a vehicle less than 60m metres from a public road.
"We understand a freight truck disturbed them before they could wreck more havoc."
When Milne was elected to Federated Farmers board earlier this year she told Rural News then she was concerned poaching would end in a tragedy.
"You cannot tell me these hunters properly identified the target before pulling the trigger. When we control deer we would rather see one scamper off than fire without knowing what we are firing at," she says.
"As farmers we constantly work among stock at all hours. I would never grant hunting permission to a stranger because of the real potential for another deadly shooting incident.
"I am also concerned that a neighbour saw hunters 'spot lighting' between houses earlier that night. Among houses for heaven's sake. This stupidity leaves me speechless.
"A bullet keeps travelling until it runs out of energy or hits something or someone. Incidents like this give good hunters a bad name. However, I seriously doubt these scumbags have bothered with a licence.
"Federated Farmers is working with the Police on rural crime and we record licence plates where we can. Sadly, these morons scarpered before we could get it.
"I am also sad to say the calf's injury was so severe, it was euthanised on veterinary advice. I hope these poaches are proud of themselves," Milne 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.
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.
Federated Farmers say Environment Canterbury's decision to declare a 'nitrate emergency' is a shameless political stunt that won't help anyone.
Farmers want the Government to scrap controversial freshwater rules that "put river spirits and ideology ahead of practical water use", says Federated Farmers board member Mark Hooper.
OPINION: Public pressure has led to Canterbury Police rightly rolling back its proposed restructure that would have seen several rural police stations closed in favour of centralised hubs.
When I interview Rachel Cox, she is driving - on her way to her next meeting.
With Fonterra's UHT plant at its Edendale site less than a year from completion, demand continues to grow for products the plant will produce, such as Anchor Whipping Cream.
A new $50,000 scholarship fund designed to support and empower women in the New Zealand dairy industry through leadership development has been launched.
Many farmers around the country are taking advantage of the high dairy payout to get maximum production out of their cows.
In 2015, the signing of a joint venture between St Peter's School, Cambridge, and Lincoln University saw the start of an exciting new chapter for Owl Farm as the first demonstration dairy farm in the North Island. Ten years on, the joint venture is still going strong.
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…
