There is a perception amongst many in the urban sector that all environmetal issues are caused by intensive agriculture and more specifically dairying.
Farmers it seems have had enough, and the purpose of this Water Forum run by the Feds, is to redress the balance of public perception reports Scoop. There can be no dispute that there has been abuses to waterways by some in the agriculture sector but much has been done and set in place to address many of these problems and the Johnsons farm will be a good way to highlight these.
Problems solved by working people in the industry will always work better than regulation enforcement by bureacrats with no financial involvement. Let us hope this positive action by agriculture will get as much publicity as the negative article the media highlighted last week.
Share with us your views on agriculture's responsibilities to the environment and do you think action to solve these issues goes far enough?
On Thursday, a farmer-led Canterbury Water Forum will challenge environmental preconceptions about farming typified by the front page of today’s Dominion Post. “This farmer-led Water Forum will turn things on their head and takes place at the Ashburton Trust Events Centre,” says Ian Mackenzie, Federated Farmers water spokesperson. “What we’re doing with this forum is to put the jigsaw pieces together including real world solutions.
“This Forum is not just for farmers but for all advisors including our service providers and financiers. We all need to understand the opportunities and costs, emerging fresh water policies hold “Nothing highlights that more than water quality and the way it is being interpreted by our regional authorities let alone the media.
“The first session includes key representatives from each main political party. This includes the Hon Nick Smith, former Minister for the Environment and Local Government, because much of the current policy direction has been set by Mr Smith. “Next we’ll look at setting and managing nutrient limits using Environment Canterbury’s (ECan) proposed Land and Water Plan. We want people to come away knowing some of the implications for the future of farming in greater Canterbury.
“More specifically what farmers can do inside the farm gate. We also hope the media and politicians will join us at the dairy farm of Ben and Shannon Johnson, to see what actually takes place on-farm. “Their farm won ECan’s Water Efficiency Award and the LIC Dairy Farm Award at the 2012 Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards. They’ve got a ton of good things to share.
“This is a counterpoint to the front page of Dominion Post effectively tagging all farmers as polluters. The 198 companies or individuals involved over four years are a fraction of the 11,735 dairy herds in New Zealand “We have to get the pendulum in balance and this forum is our way to show leadership in terms of policy and practice,” Mr Mackenzie concluded.
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