MACHINERY
MANAGEMENT
Installation of irrigation system a case of déjà vu for contractor. PAGE 49
New health and safety rules not so scary. PAGE 38
RURALNEWS
NEWS Japanese trade adds to season’s strength for Zespri.
PAGE 20
TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS
SEPTEMBER 1, 2015: ISSUE 591
www.ruralnews.co.nz
Engage don’t enrage – Feds PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
ENGAGE DON’T enrage: that’s the message to WorkSafe NZ from Federated Farmers. National president William Rolleston said this as the new Health and Safety Reform Bill was debated in Parliament last week. Despite much political bickering about the bill, Rolleston says Feds did not get sucked into political tit-for-tat. “That is not what Federated Farmers wants to get out of our involvement in this legislation. [We want no] unnecessary bureaucracy and to have good outcomes for health and safety on farms,” he told Rural News. “I don’t think get-
OFF THEY COME South Canterbury farmer and Fed Farmers national meat and fibre vice-chair Miles Anderson is pictured tailing lambs on his farm, near Timaru, last week. Anderson is mid-way through his lambing and took the opportunity of a break between lambing mobs to tail his early lambs. He says the weather during the lambing has been good so far this year, but much-needed rain would be a nice fill-up for dry pastures as he heads into spring.
ting that message and we ting sucked into the goingsare seeing better interacon of the last few days is tions.” productive.” Feds wants feedRolleston says it was back from farmers – it pleasing to see the definihas asked for it all year tion of a workplace in the – about what they see as legislation and the recunreasonable demands ognition that farms are by WorkSafe NZ. workplaces and place of “So we can feed that recreation. That distincWilliam Rolleston back to them. Contion is much clearer in the amendments. On the interaction and versely, I’d expect WorkSafe to feed tactics of WorkSafe NZ with farmers, back to us any issues they have with Rolleston says this depends on individ- particular farmers who are behaving badly.” ual inspectors and individual farmers. Rolleston says the new legislation is “We have to work on that relationship and if WorkSafe wants to engage for education and engagement, not just farmers they have to do it in a way that straight enforcement. • More on H&S reforms p6-7 doesn’t enrage them. WorkSafe is get-
DAIRY DEVELOPMENT UNDER REVIEW LANDCORP CHIEF executive Steven Carden says its further development of dairy farms in the central North Island is under review. He says since he became chief executive he’s been aware of the risks dairying poses to Landcorp’s balance sheet. Landcorp had initially planned to develop 35 dairy farms in the region in partnership with private company Wairakei Pastoral, but has so far done
only 13. Contrary to popular belief, Carden says they are not committed solely to developing dairy farms. “What we are committed to is developing land for pastoral purposes and it doesn’t have to be dairy,” he told Rural News. “We are looking broadly at other options such as sheep, beef cropping options and dairy support. We are having an expansive look at what we
can do and Wairakei Pastoral is amenable to alternative ideas.” Carden says Landcorp is committed overall to a long term outlook in its operating environment rather than short term riskier gains. He says the company runs a conservative balance sheet with a low debt-equity ratio. • Profit drops - p5 @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
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