Hearing Evidence – Brunner - Federated Farmers
Hearing Evidence – Brunner - Federated Farmers
Hearing Evidence – Brunner - Federated Farmers
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these expenses are sourced locally and relate to labour, contractor and professional<br />
fees, bought in feed, and other local services. Using the Southland model as a guide,<br />
we estimate that the increase of 5250 cows milked on the West Coast reported in the<br />
2011/2012 year, represents an additional $6,777,500 in farm working expenses, the<br />
majority of which directly enters the local economy. Added to the benefits generated<br />
on-farm, almost all milk produced on West Coast Farms is processed locally at<br />
Westland Milk products, a major employer in the region. In other words, reducing<br />
opportunities for farm production, has a directly proportional effect on jobs and<br />
opportunities for enterprising West Coasters.<br />
Relationship between impacts on farm values and stewardship<br />
25. Methods that undermine farm value, will also undermine the sense of ownership of<br />
farms and environmental issues related to them. This is important because voluntary<br />
methods and facilitating behavioral change have already proven very valuable in<br />
managing nutrient inputs to <strong>Brunner</strong> and are an aspect of the ethic of stewardship,<br />
which the Council is required to ‘have particular regard to’ under section 7 (aa) of the<br />
RMA. We think that the following from the section 32 report for the proposed Land and<br />
Water Plan, produced at the time of notification fairly reflects the value of voluntary<br />
action in improving farm practice in the Lake <strong>Brunner</strong> catchment:<br />
Farm plans had been developed with farmers in the catchment in 2005. These<br />
were a non-regulatory approach to improving systems of which some farmers had<br />
implemented the recommended best practice. Good work was undertaken by<br />
landowners through the installation of fencing and bridging, but unfortunately not<br />
everyone participated in this project. With new landowners in the catchment and<br />
changes in policy proposed, a review of these plans would provide new<br />
opportunities for reducing adverse effects on the environment through current<br />
farming practice.<br />
This method is seen as a positive approach towards identifying and working with<br />
landowners to come up with solutions and timeframes for putting in place best<br />
practice systems which not only benefits the landowners, but also has a positive<br />
environmental benefit. It is also another opportunity for farmers to demonstrate the<br />
value of non-regulatory tools in achieving positive change.<br />
26. Contrary to the submission of Fish and Game discussed at Decision Requested: 9.54,<br />
we see farm plans and education as effective in achieving improvements. Widespread<br />
support for improved effluent management, stock exclusion and stock crossings to<br />
reduce P loss are evidence of the ability of farmers to change once properly equipped<br />
with appropriate information.<br />
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