Beehive press release: Changes to intensive winter grazing rules will make them more practical for farmers and effective in lifting environmental outcomes, Environment Minister David Parker and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “For New Zealand, our economy depends on our environment and so cleaning up our winter grazing practices protects both our freshwater resources and the welfare of […]
Environment
Proposed new drinking water source rules considered ‘over the top’, unnecessary
Did we learn nothing from the Essential Freshwaters debacle, and the pitfalls of one-size-fits-all rules on resource protection? It would seem not if proposed amendments to the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Sources of Human Drinking Water) Regulations 2007 – NES-DW for short – are an indication. Federated Farmers Senior Policy Advisor Mike Campbell […]
Pulling out the stops on proposed drinking water rules
By Nigel Billings, Federated Farmers Senior Policy Advisor When the Water Services Bill first appeared in early 2021 alarm bells rang loudly at Federated Farmers. The Bill proposed that all suppliers of drinking water to domestic dwellings, excepting those that just supply themselves, would in future be classified and their water supply regulated. Suppliers would […]
Rural water proposals costly, overly-bureaucratic
Same supply for 50 years for stock, two households and other farm buildings and now I need a “Water Safety Plan”? What are these people smoking!! Family farm six generations – no problems with water. Seems to be overly bureaucratic and will have no practical use but will obviously cost the landowner. There is not […]
Walton farmer says riparian planting pays off for environment – and production
A Waikato dairy farm which began its first riparian planting project 20 years ago now stands as an exemplar for rural land users, backed by science and clever long-term planning. Federated Farmers members Grant Wills and Karo Preston operate ‘Tremeer’, a 244-hectare dairy farm at Walton in the Matamata-Piako district. The farm has been in […]
Overdue GE discussion offers GHG solution
As reports on efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions continue to be rolled out, it was the government’s reaction to another report – the Productivity Commission’s recommendations on genetic engineering – that caught Federated Farmers’ attention. “Farmers are intensely interested in further reducing their world-leading GHG emissions footprint per kilogram of food produced, but the […]
Economic Week – April 1
by Nick Clark, National Manager General Policy Farmers doing their bit on climate change Statistics NZ’s 2021 Business Operations Survey has revealed the awareness farmers have on climate change and their actions to reduce emissions and adapt to its impacts. Both are greater than for businesses as a whole. Businesses in the agriculture, forestry, and […]
Digital farm environment planning should simplify admin for farmers
With a few clicks of the mouse, farmers and growers will be able to collate and share environmental compliance data, and build export value if a new research project is successful, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said. The Government is backing the research through the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund […]
Andrew wraps the week…
Andrew Hoggard with an update on He Waka Eke Noa. “We’ve been pushing for changes that we want to see, that we think make the farm level a better option than what it currently is. But it’s still too early to tell whether we’re going to get this thing in a good enough place that […]
Protecting bees from killer mites
– From AgCarm The parasitic mite Varroa destructor is a severe threat to New Zealand’s honey bees. Since the mite appeared on our shores twenty years ago, affected bees have not been able to survive without human intervention. Effective treatment for varroa is essential for protecting our most productive pollinators. More bee colonies are now […]