Hearing Evidence – Brunner - Federated Farmers

62. In our submission on Policy 9.3.7, discussed at Decision Requested: 9.38, Federated
Farmers requested an amendment to the explanation to make it clear that the policy is
non-compulsory in nature. The 42A report recommended Council reject this
submission. We maintain that conventional wintering in the catchment may be the only
practicable option for many, for example if market conditions result in shortage of land
for winter grazing elsewhere, or biosecurity issues, (such as Tb) restrict stock
movements.
63. In further submissions, Federated Farmers responded the submission of the
Department of Conservation (at Decision Requested: 9.37), who sought Rules to
manage winter grazing. Federated Farmers members fear that ‘rules’ for winter grazing
will result in excessive cost in light of the nature of the problem and concessions
already made by farmers in the Brunner catchment. An obvious fear is that rules will
involve requirements for ‘alternative’ wintering practices, such as wintering barns, to
demonstrate reduced phosphorous loss. Federated Farmers seeks to avoid this
outcome because wintering barns are very costly, and introduce technical complexity
around animal welfare and diet which must be carefully managed. Furthermore,
wintering barns encourage high intensity farming as farmers attempt to recover the
cost, and take advantage of the ability of wintering barns to achieve efficient feed
utilisation, and increase cow numbers on the milking platform. With future policy
responses to stock wintering, the Council is better to avoid prescriptive policy
responses, and focus on good wintering practice, and to ensure that solutions are cost
effective and achieve good environmental outcomes.
4. Other Matters
4.1 Policy 4.3.6 – Council will require the use of bridges, culverts, and other
methods where a farmers causes a herd of cattle to cross any river or
permanently flowing creek, at any farm raceway, more than ten times in any
month for herds larger than 500 cattle, or more than 20 times in any month for
herds less than 500 cattle. A crossing is one-way only.
This Policy also applies for dry stock where more than 50 animals cross any
river or permanently flowing creek more than 20 times per month.
63. Federated Farmers are pleased to see the recommendation to accept our submission
and amend Policy 4.3.6 at Decision Requested: 4.17 of the 42A report. The suggested
changes make sense and make the plan more coherent and easier to understand, and
are fairer because cattle are treated equally with other stock types.
64. Federated Farmers made further submissions on the submission from Fish and Game
discussed at Decision Requested 4.18. This submission includes a request to extend
controls on stock crossings to any situation where a farmer causes cattle to cross a
‘river or permanently flowing creek’. In response to the submission of Fish and Game, it
is not reasonable or efficient to require that every place where animals might
conceivably cross a stream has a fence or a culvert. We support the 42A report which
recommends the Council reject this submission.
14