The Labour Party has sent “blank invoices” to farmers around the country, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

If elected, Labour’s charge on water for irrigation will be a “small royalty” for all “substantial takes”, says spokesman for water and the environment David Parker.

Environment Minister Nick Smith made waves earlier this year when he announced the Clean Water package in February, a series of initiatives which the Government claims will improve freshwater management in New Zealand.

A Massey University agribusiness expert says Labour’s newly-announced water policy is problematic on several fronts.

“Have clippers, will travel” could be the motto of Mid-Canterbury’s Luke Gilbert.

New Zealand farmer Matt Iremonger has won the highly-regarded Australasian business award for a strategic business plan he developed for a start-up farming enterprise in North Canterbury.

Testing is continuing on 16 Van Leeuwen Dairy Group (VLDG) farms in South Canterbury for the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis.

Research shows that cows bred for low urea concentration end up using more nitrogen for milk protein productions.

“This most extraordinary story has got me rocking.”

Fonterra is being criticised for its expensive advertising campaign promoting the co-op, the dairy industry and its farmer shareholders.