biosecurity glitches
animal health charts
The Sapere Report is critical of failings from both MAF and Zespri. page 11
Your guide to treating internal parasites in your sheep. page 28-33
Rural NEWS to all farmers, for all farmers
crunching numbers Don’t leave it to guess work when planning your winter crops for next year.
page 24 july 17, 2012: Issue 519
www.ruralnews.co.nz
‘PR BS’ riles farmers a n dr ew swa l low
FULL PAGE advertisements in recent editions of this and other newspapers by national grid operator Transpower (back page, Rural News, July 3) have sparked a strong reaction from landowners’ representatives. Some were left spitting by the letterstyle statement signed by Transpower chief executive Patrick Strange, while others – such as Western Bay of Plenty dairy, kiwifruit and avocado farmer Steve Bailey – say at least Transpower is now publicising and communicating the issue. But Bailey still doesn’t agree with Transpower’s assertion that the Government’s ‘national policy statement on electricity transmission’ requires
buffer corridors to be written into district plans. “This is a sledgehammer approach to a small communications issue,” he told Rural News. “The whole thing is a money-goround. Why go with such a heavyhanded approach that is going to involve a huge amount of cost for all parties?” Bailey says it’s unnecessary because existing legislation, as spelt out in the New Zealand Electrical Code of Practice for Electrical Safe Distances 2001 (NZECP34), provides the protections Transpower is seeking. “If Transpower are finding people
breaching the Electricity Act they should go to the appropriate enforcement agency and get them to enforce it.” By submitting that buffer corridors be written into district plans wherever it has infrastructure (Rural News, June 19) Transpower is seeking to pass that enforcement responsibility and cost on to district councils and, in turn, ratepayers, says Bailey. If councils adopt Transpower’s submission, landowners with powerlines crossing their properties will face further restrictions and costs due to consenting processes, despite having
hosted national grid infrastructure rent-free for decades. “At some point we need to be recognised,” says Bailey. To date, he’s not had so much as a letter from Transpower. “It would be nice to have a communication from them. We get them from Transfield Services, their subcontractor, but nothing from Transpower. Don’t they realise their business operates largely on the goodwill of landowners?” Strange’s claim that “we are working closely with landowners” also rings hollow with South Canterbury farmer Jeremy Talbot, who had a six year run-in to page 3
The ‘quadcopter’ was one of the many technological innovations demonstrated at last week’s BLNZ science day for farmers at Massey University. This fast, small ‘unmanned aerial vehicle’ is capable of taking high quality pictures to show, among many things, which parts of a paddock are growing better than others and thus greatly assist farmers in accurately assessing their feed budgets. But while it may look like the ideal toy for boys of any age, it’s a little more expensive than the gadgets down at your local hobby shop. The starting price is around $10,000 and it goes up depending on the quality of the camera. More from the conference on page 4 and in subsequent issues of Rural News.
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That’s what works out here.
Legal action possible THE NEW Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc (NZKGI) is seeking legal advice and Zespri is to consult growers nationwide on findings of the Sapere report on Psa. NZKGI president Neil Trebilco says “we’ve engaged Queen’s council to have a good look at the report and see if on growers’ behalf we should be taking on further action. From our perspective it is a prudent thing to do on behalf of growers.” Trebilco says a number of deficiencies in MAF (now MPI) processes were identified including the need for more consultation with industry on biosecurity threats. Typically in the past consultation only occurred after incursions, Tebilco says. If there had been consultation on importing organic matter, kiwifruit pollen would probably not have been brought into the country, he says. “Growers were dismayed when they first heard pollen had been imported.” It was common practice to use pollen but growers had not been aware the supplier had started importing pollen from China. However Trebilco says NZKGI commends MPI and its directorgeneral for commissioning and publishing the independent report. “To have that self-examination… says they’re intent on improving the border process and biosecurity for primary production. – Pam Tipa • More on Psa report, p11