increase font size
Beef+Lamb NZ chief executive Sam McIvor says the new regulations are complicated and there are significant issues right across the country.
Farmer-good organisation Beef+Lamb NZ (BLNZ) says it will continue to advocate for changes to the new fresh water regulations.
Chief executive Sam McIvor says as well as advocating for change, the organisation will focus on helping farmers to understand how the rules apply on their farms. BLNZ is also working on providing resources to help farmers do this.
“This will continue to be a priority for our organisation over the coming months,” he says.
McIvor claims that, in respect of winter grazing, there is some good news in the short term as changes are made to the new laws. He says while the proposed winter grazing rules technically come into effect on 31 May 2021, the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) has advised all regional councils that farmers do not have to apply for a consent until 31 October 2021 – as long as farmers do not make any changes to how they have been winter grazing in the past.
This is due to an “existing rights” rule protected under the RMA. But McIvor says if farmers are changing something with respect to their winter grazing in 2021, then they will need to get in contact with their regional council.
“The Government has acknowledged there are problems with the low slope map for stock exclusion and acknowledged this needs to be fixed,” he adds. “At this stage, we understand MfE is intending to ‘improve the map’ and make it more accurate.”
However, McIvor concedes that this will be complicated and take a long time, as there are significant issues right across the entire country.
BLNZ is also pushing for swift progress on developing a certified farm plan that is outcomes based and based on industry approaches.
McIvor says they are encouraging the Government to make progress as quickly as possible on defining what a certified farm plan is, and how these will be rolled out, so that farmers won’t have to seek a consent.
“We are strongly advocating for an industry-led approach to farm plans that are practical and outcomes based,” he adds. “BLNZ will shortly be rolling out a new farm plan process, which we believe would meet the Government’s requirements for a certified farm plan.”
McIvor says BLNZ will be holding events around the country with farmers to explain the new rules, what it is doing to improve the rules, and the tools BLNZ is developing to assist farmers in meeting these.
Recent widespread autumn rain will have triggered the germination of subterranean clover seeds, and the resulting seedlings should be allowed to reach the 3–4 trifoliate leaf stage before grazing, says Beef+Lamb NZ.
Southland farmer and director Tony Cleland has been named OSPRI New Zealand’s new chair.
A hub farm in each of Beef + Lamb NZ’s seven regions and more focus groups are being rolled out for the red meat sector this year.
The red meat sector is poised for a strong rebound this season, with export receipts forecast to top $10 billion and farm profitability to almost double.
Progeny testing at Pāmu’s Kepler farm in Southland as part of Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Informing New Zealand Beef programme is showing that the benefits of hybrid vigour could have a massive impact on the future of beef breeding.
The upheaval in the Middle East may have eased the fall in global dairy prices last week.
New Zealand tech company Halter has raised $165 million from investors in its latest fundraising round.
Federated Farmers is brushing aside concerns that the Government's intention to allow farmers to use their KiwiSaver funds to buy a first farm could be problematic.
On the eve of his departure from Federated Farmers board, Richard McIntyre is thanking farmers for their support and words of encouragement during his stint as a farmer advocate.
A project reducing strains and sprains on farm has won the Innovation category in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other sector organisations, has launched a national survey to understand better the impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmers.
