outlook positive
bright future ahead
Good debt repayment means the sheep and beef sector is in good shape. page 13
Southdowns deliver fast growing, great survivability and conformation. pages 37-39
Rural NEWS
farming with limits Farmers must adapt for better water.
page 28
to all farmers, for all farmers
october 23, 2012: Issue 525
www.ruralnews.co.nz
Has Fonterra gone soft? p e te r bu r k e peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
SOME FARMERS in Manawatu/Wanganui are upset Fonterra is refusing to appeal the controversial One Plan or help Federated Farmers with cash for its appeal The issue of One Plan arose at a meeting of Fonterra directors and shareholders in the region recently. Rural News has learned some share-
holders were bitterly disappointed at the response of Fonterra’s representatives at the meeting. James Stewart, Feds Dairy section chairman for Manawatu/Rangitikei, says personally he would have liked Fonterra to appeal the Environment Courts decision on the One Plan. He says some farmers at the meeting expressed the view Fonterra had gone ‘soft’ on the plan and were more interested in looking after the corporate image of the
organisation than looking after farmers’ issues. “But it’s fair to say there were mixed views on the issue and some accepted an appeal may be difficult. Others grilled the Fonterra people, but not in an unpleasant way,” says Stewart. Gray Beagley, who represents Feds members in Tararua District, says farmers were upset at Fonterra’s approach, especially its outright refusal to help in any way with Federated Farmers’ appeal
to the High Court. “Fonterra said they were going to work behind the scenes and try to make a difference that way. Fonterra is saying they’ll help us on the day-today stuff, but farmers are saying they can get through the day-to-day stuff themselves; it’s long term sustainability or securing the future that’s worrying them.” Beagley says farmers in his area, a high rainfall one, are now just starting to get a handle on some of the numbers coming out of ‘Overseer’ and realizing they can’t do anything to mitigate that. Some farmers are saying they will be forced off their farms. “I think it just a bit of PR exercise by Fonterra saying that they won’t go against the Environment Court,” Beagley claims. • Fonterra’s stand – page 3
Pylon problems rumble on a n d r ew swa l low andrews@ruralnews.co.nz
FARMERS AND landowners in Whangerei District are the latest to lock horns with their council, and indirectly Transpower, over provisions the state-owned enterprise is seeking to get written into district plans. In Western Bay of Plenty and Waimate, concerns about development and consequent land use restrictions were limited to the Transpower national grid infrastructure, but in Whangarei the council’s proposed plan change 123A will apply to all network facilities, ie including local lines company to page 4
massey honours ag students JAY HOWES, winner of the NZIAHS award for the leading agricultural and horticultural student at Massey University this year. He is seen here with the president of NZIAHS, Dr David Lewis, of Plant and Food Research. Howes was one of several Massey University top agricultural students recognised recently during a gala function in Palmerston North. The annual dinner, a tradition for final-year agricultural students, this year attracted 200 students, university staff, sponsors and special guests from the agricultural sector. The guest speaker was Abby Hull, a recent ag graduate from Massey and now a DairyNZ consulting officer in the lower North Island. Cameron Shaw was named agricultural student of the year, while Nathan Wright won the prestigious William Gerrish Memorial Award and Bridgette Lawn the NZ Institute of Primary Industry Management award.
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