B+LNZ board fees hike rejected by farmers
Red meat farmers have dealt a major blow to their umbrella farmer body, Beef + Lamb New Zealand - rejecting an increase in directors’ fees.
Sheep and beef farmers say they are not trying to dodge their health and safety responsibilities.
Beef + Lamb NZ chairman James Parsons says there's been a lot of noise about health and safety and the Government's amendments to the Health and Safety Reform Bill.
"We've been pointing out to government that farmers need workable and sensible legislation so it was good to see that sheep and beef farms, which on average employ fewer than two full time people, won't be required to elect a health and safety rep," he says.
Last week Workplace Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse released a list of 57 high risk industries which would require health and safety representatives even where there are fewer than 20 staff.
The new classifications have been heavily mocked with worm farms and mini golf courses being defined as "high risk" while dairy and cattle farms are not.
But Parsons says by not classifying agriculture as a "high risk" sector by no means lets us off easy and assertions that our sector is trying to dodge our health and safety responsibilities are completely unfounded.
"Some commentary that has described farming as one of the worst industries for work place deaths based on total fatalities does not take account of the scale of the sector. When you divide the serious accidents by the total number of farming workers, then our health and safety record is suddenly brought into context.
"There are a number of areas we will continue to work with the Government and WorkSafe New Zealand on – in particular finding a workable solution to quadbike use. We are working closely with Federated Farmers and DairyNZ on this and other issues. It is important that farmers continue to individually talk with politicians across the floor so there are no last minute changes to the legislation."
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
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