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NEW ZEALAND FACES risks to its environmental and economic future if issues facing the sheep meat industry are not resolved, says Environment Southland chairman Ali Timms.
Timms says there is widespread and growing concern in the community about the dire situation of the sheep meat industry. She planned to discuss her concerns to the Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy yesterday.
"The minister needs to recognise that if the issues facing the sheep meat industry are not addressed the Government will face barriers in meeting its economic growth agenda, and regional councils will struggle to meet the water quality goals of the National Policy Statement on freshwater," she says.
Regional councils seek to balance environmental and economic gains, she says. Southland and many other regions around the country are facing water quality issues as a result of elevated nitrogen (N) levels. Recent estimates put the average losses of N/per hectare/per year in the Southland area at about: Dairy platform 30; intensive sheep/beef/deer farms 12; extensive sheep/beef/deer farms 6; dairy support (intensive winter grazing) 55
"It is clear that the generally less extensive nature of red meat farming really helps to lower the overall environmental footprint in rural Southland," says Timms.
Timms says she isn't asking for the Government to directly intervene, but she is pushing the case for national leadership because it will be difficult to meet the targets of the NPS without the sheep meat industry having long-term viability.
As the anniversary of the 1984 Southland floods approaches, Environment Southland is reminding residents that the maintenance of and investment in flood infrastructure in the region is more crucial than ever.
Southland farmers say forced rules enforcements around winter grazing is just a "box ticking exercise".
Southland is one of the first regions to roll out new freshwater farm plan regulations.
Environment Southland (ES) councillors have adopted an organisational target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Stop bank improvements across Southland are underway this month.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
There have been leadership changes at the Hamilton-based Dairy Goat Co-operative, which has been struggling financially in recent years.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
