| New Zealand
Fish & Game Councillors got their gumboots on during a visit
to Waikato dairy farms hosted by DairyNZ and Environment Waikato
last weekend [23-25 May]. “The visits provided an excellent
opportunity for New Zealand Fish & Game Councillors to see first
hand how environmental issues could be managed on the farm, and
to discuss sustainable agriculture with some of the people walking
the talk,” said Rob Roney, Chairman New Zealand Council (NZC).
The NZC first met with DairyNZ (Tim Mackle, Chief
Executive, Ted Coats Board Member, Rick Pridmore Strategy and Investment
Leader Sustainability, and Bruce Thorrold Strategy and Investment
Leader, Productivity) at Ruakura, Hamilton before visiting the research
property at Scotts Farm. The focus of the discussion was behaviour
change on farms. Tim Mackle noted that, “we’re both
after the same thing; to enhance economic and environmental sustainability
with DairyNZ allocating around $26 million of dairy farmers’
money on sustainability and biosecurity projects. While 90% of dairy
farmers do have a responsible approach to environmental sustainability,
we also have a responsibility to provide clarity on the best ways
to farm sustainably so all farmers can act positively. A key aspect
to this will be our two groups staying engaged in a constructive
dialogue.”
Visits to two working dairy farms were hosted
by Peter Buckley, Chairman of Environment Waikato and senior staff.
Peter Buckley welcomed the opportunity to meet with Fish and Game,
and farmers to discuss areas of common interest and look at various
solutions for achieving environmentally sustainable dairying.
"It was really worthwhile to look at on-the-ground examples
of sustainable farming practice. We looked at two different types
of dairy farming systems, both focused on production but with processes
that minimise environmental impacts," Peter said. “We
must all work together to achieve change and it was greatly encouraging
to have frank discussions over what is possible and achievable on
farms. I suggest the best solutions are pragmatic solutions developed
by realistic, practical and pragmatic people. I welcome opportunities
to keep this discussion going into the future."
The visits were organised around a routine NZC
meeting agenda and contributed to a full and busy weekend for councillors
and Fish & Game staff. Summarising the weekend’s events,
Rob Roney said, “The Council saw two organisations working
towards environmentally sustainable agriculture, and two working
farms demonstrating a commitment to best environmental practice.
In this respect, the visits were valuable, interesting and encouraging.
Yet sadly, we continue to see the deterioration of the quality of
New Zealand’s lowland waterways – evidenced by formal
reports, the latest being the Ministry for the Environment’s
“Environment New Zealand 2007”, and our by first hand
experience. We know there are well understood solutions and practices
for environmental sustainability, and we acknowledge that many farmers
have these in place. The key issue is to improve the uptake of these
on all dairy farms, fine tune those practices that can be improved,
and make environmental sustainability an essential condition for
farming, rather than a voluntary add-on. The good work by many dairy
farmers is being let down by some, and the industry and its suppliers
deserve better.”
“Our task now is to work towards helping
achieve 100% environmental performance throughout the primary sector,
and to achieve that quickly. I ask farmers to recognise that Fish
& Game’s advocacy for clean water is not a blanket criticism
of all farmers, and that we acknowledge the good work many farmers
are doing. However, we make no apologies for fighting to protect
and enhance New Zealand’s finite freshwater resources, and
we will continue to draw attention to poor practices and casual
compliance. At the same time, we congratulate and support those
farmers doing their bit, and look for ways we can help them by insisting
that the poor performers measure up.”
“The visits enabled a first hand look at
good farming practice and enhanced the opportunity for constructive
dialogue between Fish & Game and our hosts. We now need to work
to maintain this constructive dialogue. The NZC sincerely appreciates
the warm welcome and considerable efforts afforded to the NZC by
DairyNZ and Environment Waikato and their governors and senior staff,
and the generous hospitality and openness of the farmers who welcomed
the Council to their farms to view their operations. A special thanks
to Joan and Peter De Renzy and their sharemillkers Craig and Hannah
Fulton on Puketutu Road, Matamata, and Joss Van Loon of Delta Farms,
Putaruru.”
|
