Dairy power
OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has called on the Government to shelve plans to finalise decisions around the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity.
It is also demanding an urgent review of the cumulative financial and social impacts of the Government’s environmental agenda on farmers and rural communities.
B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor says farmers are feeling overwhelmed by the tsunami of environmental and other regulations that have been rushed through in the last few years.
“Many are mentally exhausted – there’s just been no understanding from the Government or appreciation of the damage done by the scale and pace of change.”
McIvor says many of the rules in areas such as freshwater and climate change have been poorly thought through and the economic impacts of the changes are far more than what is needed to achieve the desired environmental outcomes.
“The NPS for Indigenous Biodiversity is another case in point. Leading biodiversity experts like Professor David Norton agree with B+LNZ that the definition of a Significant Natural Area is much broader than it needs to be and will tie up productive land in red tape and compliance and not achieve positive biodiversity outcomes.”
McIvor says the Government needs to stop and take stock of what it is trying to achieve and adjust its reform agenda to ensure the economy successfully recovers from COVID-19. “The Government needs to stop, listen to feedback and fundamentally change key policies before it’s too late.”
Rural retailer Farmlands has launched a new casual clothing range available across 42 stores nationwide and through its online store.
Federated Farmers says the health and safety changes announced this week by the Government represent the start of overdue reforms.
The Government is calling on rural New Zealanders to share their views on proposed regulations designed to improve the management of farm plastic waste.
For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.
After tasting 240 New Zealand made cheeses, judges have bestowed medals upon 199 of the entries.
Bay of Plenty’s top share farmers Andre and Natalie Meier are no strangers to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winning circle.
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