If ever there was a demonstration of all that Feds is engaged in, and the workload of our provincial presidents and fellow branch elected leaders – all voluntary, on top of running their farming businesses – this Christmas message from Sally Dryland to her Tararua members underlines it. In fact, we’ve had to significantly edit Sally’s list to get it on a page of the FedsNews print edition…
OK, Let’s let it go, 2022 the year of… reflecting.
There has been a lot of time invested by our local Federated Farmers exec members and the national body representing a farmer view in a vast array of topics. Frankly it’s exhausting at times BUT knowing that 285 local farmers want you in the room putting their concerns forward is a great driver to have.
Our diaries certainly were full of meetings attended on the following topics:
Nitrogen reporting - Another “sorry we haven’t got things in place by timeline required for you to meet your obligations”.
Farm plans - Latest update will take 5 years to get implemented across NZ.
PC2 changes, still in mitigation.
Forestry impacts - Ongoing and it shouldn’t be…
Winter grazing consents - Slope map still not accurate. Horizons have short-term consenting option.
Drinking water standards - Took a while but now treating at point of consumption makes sense.
ACC farm without harm - There’s quite a lot of new approaches coming forth, especially in regard to getting folk back to work.
3 waters - We supported Tararua District Council’s stand in opposing, again ongoing…
HWEN and emissions pricing - This was a biggie. Personally, I’m pleased we stayed in room, recognised the influence that both MPI and MfE had on group, and then refocused on the original goals around targets, sequestration, having reductions technologies available pre introduction, etc. Feds haven’t pulled out of the wider group but wanted to be very clear on what our bottom lines were hence not signing the HWEN submission.
Escalating costs including rates - 12% increases for rural – Are land values a fair way to determine rates contributions? Feds continues to argue against. The $55 fee per working dog although not financially crippling was a bug bear in that there’s no data to support fee as reflective of need.
Plantain Project - Great local initiative with 65 local farmers now actively involved 42 conducting monthly water samples…
TDC Strategic planning multiple consults - hard work through pandemic. We are one of only a few groups who front up each year on the Annual Plan.
Power Co - A few zoom calls later. We will get a meeting organised in Eke to address local issues early in new year (I hope)
Rural Support Trust - Great to see some big community events this year to support funding for local support.
Young Farmers -Josh Wilkinson is a fantastic motivator and we’ve benefited hugely from the enthusiasm of young farmers attending local functions with Feds.
Forsyth and Barr - Off farm investment options – it’s good to have contacts.
Water Quality, MfE, MPI, Assure Quality – It’s a topic of choice for many
Also mentioned by Sally, but not the room to describe in her fuller detail here, topics including SLUI, water storage, Dairy NZ Awards, SCION, Ruahine Kiwi, Manawatu River Leaders Accord, Dairy Code of Welfare, live exports, firearms regulation changes and spray restrictions.
Sally finished her message with this sentence: “Our greatest strength is numbers and if you don’t want to be the one attending all the above, you might wish instead to encourage other farmers to sign up.”
