Crazy
OPINION: Your canine crusader was truly impressed by the almost unanimous support given by politicians of all stripes in Parliament to the recent passing of legislation for the NZ/EU free trade deal.
Politicians are rubbishing reports that the dairy industry will need to reduce cow numbers to improve fresh water quality.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says media reports “misinterpreted” what Environment Minister David Parker said recently on television.
“The media have an agenda; the National Party has an agenda,” he told Rural News.
O’Connor says Parker was talking about nutrient budgets and farmers understand that.
“The question is how we get on to improve nutrient management. There are no plans on cow numbers at all; in fact we said that to Greenpeace who were thinking about a moratorium [on cow numbers] that we don’t buy into.
“We leave it and we can trust the farmers as long as they get clear signals and know what the targets are. I think they will get on with it; we’ve said the target is swimmable water at least.”
O’Connor used his speech at the DairyNZ Farmers Forum in Hamilton last week to allay fears of farmers being forced to reduce cow numbers.
“If you’re on the National Party email list you are probably told it’s cow numbers; that’s not the truth.”
Climate Change Minister James Shaw, who also spoke at the Farmers Forum, told Rural News that media reports on cow numbers were “fear mongering”.
“We are talking about nutrient budget catchment by catchment; that’s exactly what has been happening -- simply taking the best practice and applying it to the whole country.”
DairyNZ chairman Jim van der Poel says DairyNZ in principle supports nutrient budgets.
“They have been around for a while; we agree on managing nutrients on a catchment-by-catchment basis, and that it’s important all farmers and communities – not just dairy farmers – work in a sustainable way.
“Achieving clean waterways is a responsibility for all New Zealanders and we are and will play our part.
“Dairy farmers are very often part of the solution and often leading the work in catchments. We are working closely with the Government and David Parker on this issue and although media interpreted this as being about cow numbers, we don’t believe that is the case.”
Van der Poel says it’s important to protect rural communities as they adjust to new farming practices, given that “thriving rural communities are important to this Government as well”.
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith says it's important for his department to celebrate the success of a whole range of groups and people around the country.
A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.
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