Thursday, 12 September 2024 08:55

Editorial: Farmers can sleep easy now

Written by  Staff Reporters
The Government decision to pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised is the right call. The Government decision to pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised is the right call.

OPINION: Common sense has prevailed.

The Government decision to pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised is the right call.

The decision will be welcomed by farmers and regional councils in areas where freshwater plans have started, including parts of Waikato, Southland, the West Coast, Otago, and Manawatu-Whanganui.

The Government's view is that freshwater farm plans support farmers in managing freshwater risks, but the current system is too costly and not fit-for-purpose. However, while the Government simplifies requirements and enables more local catchment-level solutions, regional councils had been legally bound under the RMA to get farmers to comply with freshwater plans.

This left many farmers in a state of limbo, wonderig if they should get a freshwater farm plan under the current rules or wait for changes. Councils have already started implementing freshwater farm plan rules, but it makes no sense to force farmers to comply when they know the rules are about to change.

Wellington heard the concerns of the sector and Cabinet has agreed to pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans while potential changes are considered. Minor amendments to the Resource Management Act (RMA) will enable the pause.

Halting the rollout means farmers can wait for the Government to release the new rules around freshwater farm plans without having regional councils breathing down their necks.

There's no doubt that the current rules around freshwater plans are incredibly frustrating, with a lot of unnecessary cost, complexity and duplication.

It could be improved to reduce cost and complexity, and better acknowledge the environmental progress farmers are making. New freshwater farm plans must acknowledge the good work many farmers are already doing.

The key thing for farmers is to make a start and keep up their efforts - their work will not be wasted. And that makes sense.

More like this

Editorial: Time for common sense

OPINION: The case of four Canterbury high country stations facing costly and complex consent hearing processes highlights the dilemma facing the farming sector as the country transitions into a replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA).

Editorial: KiwiSaver to the rescue?

OPINION: Farmers are rightly urging the Government to relax the rules around KiwiSaver and allow young farmers to use their savings towards purchasing either a house, cows or a farm.

Editorial: Keep moving forward

OPINION: Over the past 25 years growing wine, Jonathan Hamlet has seen "a massive evolution" in the care taken in vineyards.

NZ growers lead freshwater compliance

Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says that commercial fruit and vegetable growers are getting ahead of freshwater farm plan regulations through its Growing Change project.

Editorial: Winston's words of wisdom

OPINION: Foreign policy is a real strength of Winston Peter and this is recognised by Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) officials who, so the story goes, wanted him in his present role because of his experience in that field.

Featured

LIC Space folds for good

Farmer co-operative LIC has closed its satellite-backed pasture measurement platform – Space.

Editorial: Time for common sense

OPINION: The case of four Canterbury high country stations facing costly and complex consent hearing processes highlights the dilemma facing the farming sector as the country transitions into a replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA).

National

Machinery & Products

Calf feeding boost

Advantage Plastics says it is revolutionising calf meal storage and handling, making farm life easier, safer, and more efficient this…

JD's precision essentials

Farmers across New Zealand are renowned for their productivity and efficiency, always wanting to do more with less, while getting…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Are they serious?

OPINION: The Greens aren’t serious people when it comes to the economy, so let’s not spend too much on their…

A hurry up!

OPINION: PM Chris Luxon is getting pinged lately for rolling out the old 'we're still a new government' line when…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter