increase font size
FEDERATED FARMERS commends Environment Southland for listening to the concerns of hill and high country farmers, and delaying notification of the proposed Hill and High Country Development Plan Change.
"The council's decision, having engaged and taken on board farmers concerns, will result in better outcomes for farmers and the environment," says Allan Baird, Federated Farmers Southland acting provincial president.
"Taking time to fully consider the issues, potential impacts, inclusive of the whole community and their values, is a fundamental part of the National Policy Statement for Fresh Water Management, and needs to be central in all decision making.
"Whilst guidelines are still under review to inform good management practices on hill and high country farms, there needs to be patience and consideration to all affected by any implementation of new rules. Farmers need to be informed and they need time to adjust, particularly given these rules would impose real costs on farmers.
"Considering the quality of water in the upper catchments is generally good, Federated Farmers believes the best way forward is to abandon the rule of making hill high country farm development a regulated process.
"The hundreds of hill and high country farmers affected want to get it right. Therefore it would be more appropriate for the council and the Federation to educate the minority of farmers that aren't, rather than introduce a blanket rule for all.
"Environmental results come from collaboration, not regulating in panic to solve a problem. We are thrilled the council are taking a more balanced approach, and sincerely hope it continues" says Baird.
OPINION: Bouquets this week from the old mutt for Fed Farmers and Groundswell for continuing to resist the proposed Gore District plan and its intention to apply costly "cultural values" across the district and a raft of land classifications that are unworkable and counterproductive.
A verbal stoush has broken out between Federated Farmers and a new group that claims to be fighting against cheaper imports that undermine NZ farmers.
Taupiri farmer Chris Woolerton is tipped to take over as Federated Farmers Waikato president from next week.
Farmers want more direct, accurate information about both fuel and fertiliser supply.
Federated Farmers is celebrating following the Government's announcement that young farmers will be able to use their KiwiSaver funds to buy their first home or farm.
National's decision to ‘dribble’ information about the NZ/India to Labour contributed to the delay in it deciding to supported the FTA.
A Hawke's Bay farmer has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half-months' home detention and disqualified from being in charge of or owning sheep and cattle for 12 months for serious animal welfare offending.
With mounting pressure on Australian farmers, driven by the increasingly fluid global uncertainty, the organisers of 'FutureAg powered by Agritechnica' have postponed the Melbourne event.
Tickets have officially gone on sale for Fieldays 2026, marking less than 50 days until the event.
A recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand ‘Farming for Profit’ field day drew about 100 people keen to hear about the policies that drove performance at Erewhon Station, located on the Taihape to Napier Road.
Zespri has unveiled Grown for Good, a refreshed global brand platform, in an effort to reinforce the company's commitment to nutrition and creating value across the kiwifruit industry.
OPINION: When Donald Trump returned to the White House, many people with half a brain could see the results for…
OPINION: Media trust has tanked because of what media's more woke members do and say.
