30,287 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast
October 2020 Edition
INSIDE
THIS EDITION Selling horses
p7 Farmers at risk
p15 Shows affected
Just say no: Federated Farmers say the new National environment Standard for Freshwater aren’t needed in canterbury and will waste farmers’ time and ratepayers’ money. Photo: the Hurunui river photo supplied by ecan
Freshwater regulations to stall progress — Feds The new National Environment Standard (NES) for Freshwater could derail the progress already made on improving water quality in Canterbury according to Federated Farmers.
p30 Confusion reigns
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❚ by Kent caddick The new NES rules include: limits on land use intensification, setting controls on intensive winter grazing, and limiting the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser. “The new regulations coming in over the top of what Environment Canterbury already has in place will waste farmers’ time and ratepayers’ money,” Federated Farmers North Canterbury president Cam Henderson said. Henderson was speaking on behalf of other regional presidents including David Clark (Mid Canterbury), Jason Grant (South Canterbury) and Jared Ross (North Otago). “We agree that a number of the new rules are not workable,” Henderson said.
“But more than that, in Canterbury the NES is simply not needed. Not because we don’t have intensive farming but because our current regional plan already deals with improving water quality in a much more targeted and effective way,” he said. “The plan already contains provisions to control land use intensification and ensure good management practices are adhered to for all farm types, including for intensive winter grazing. All forms of nitrogen fertiliser, not just synthetic, are accounted for. “Furthermore, the regional plan requires all intensive farms to hold a resource consent to farm. One consent condition is for a personalised and independently audited farm environment plan.” Henderson said Canterbury farmers and
the regional council have contributed years of work and considerable financial investment to implement the plan and drive real change on farm that will lead to improved water quality over time. “The new national standard uses different rules to the current regional plan, which means many farmers will likely need to reapply for their consents and rewrite their farm plans, which will then require re-auditing. ‘’We are talking years of council work to reassess farms. That means more staff and ratepayer funding and extra time and money from farmers too - all to end up where we started. And in the meantime, action on improving freshwater quality stands still.
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