Early Bird I Monday August 12th 2024

Government intervention saves crucial farm discharge consents, Ravensdown considers closing Dunedin fertiliser manufacturing, and recent farm tragedies highlight quad bike dangers. Welcome to Proud Country's Early Bird - The top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand delivered to you by 5am, because who doesn’t need better chat beyond the weather! Government intervention saves crucial farm discharge consents New Zealand farmers can expect greater certainty around discharge consents following swift action by the government to clarify provisions in the Resource Management Act (RMA). This move comes in response to recent High Court decisions that threatened to make the law unworkable for agricultural and horticultural producers. Federated Farmers RMA reform spokesperson Mark Hooper welcomed the government's rapid response, highlighting the critical nature of the issue for the farming community. He says a recent High Court decision ruling that discharge consents are unlawful has created huge uncertainty for farmers. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced that Cabinet has agreed to make time-critical amendments to section 107 of the RMA. These changes aim to ensure councils can continue to manage discharge consents in a practical way, providing legal clarity and certainty for farmers and other consent applicants. The urgency of the situation is underscored by estimates from Environment Canterbury, which projected that in their region alone, 525 consents would be impacted over the next 12 months. Without this law change, significant parts of New Zealand's productive economy, particularly in the agricultural sector, were at risk of grinding to a halt. McClay emphasised the wide-ranging implications of the High Court decisions, which could have restricted councils' ability to issue or reissue consents for discharges from farming activities, meat processing, and large-scale irrigation schemes. The government's intervention aims to prevent a scenario where more discharges would need consents, more applications would be declined, and consent conditions would become more restrictive. Hooper pointed out that this situation highlights the flaws in the current resource management system showing how slow, broken and cumbersome our resource management laws have become. Ravensdown considers closing Dunedin fertiliser manufacturing Farmers and the agricultural sector are facing potential changes in fertiliser supply as Ravensdown proposes to cease manufacturing superphosphate at its Ravensbourne plant in Dunedin.  Chief Executive Garry Diack announced that about half of the approximately 60 employees at the site could be affected if the proposal goes ahead. The company plans to continue operations as a port store and distribution centre, maintaining some local presence. Diack explained that Ravensdown currently has more manufacturing capacity than required across its three sites in Napier, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The company has been producing around 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes of fertiliser annually, while market demand has dropped to about 400,000 tonnes in recent years. For farmers, this move underscores the ongoing challenges in the agricultural sector, including changing land use patterns and environmental considerations affecting fertiliser use. However, Diack assured that New Zealand's agricultural sector still needs nutrients, and there will "always be a business there." The Ravensbourne site has a long history, having manufactured fertiliser for the past 91 years. If the proposal goes through, manufacturing would likely cease in December or January, marking the end of an era for Dunedin's agricultural industry. Ravensdown's annual results reflect these challenging times, with revenue dropping by $186 million to $739 million. Despite this, the co-operative delivered a before-tax profit of $4.8 million after impairments. For farmers concerned about future fertiliser supply, Diack emphasized that the Napier and Christchurch sites are not affected by this proposal. The company is also exploring other ways to improve efficiencies, including a market valuation and partial divestment of its lime assets. Recent farm tragedies highlight quad bike dangers WorkSafe New Zealand is intensifying its call for quad bike safety on farms following four fatal incidents involving rural workers in the last three weeks. This surge in accidents has raised alarms within the agricultural community and regulatory bodies. The initial incident unfolded in Wairarapa on July 18, followed by the loss of a Canterbury farmer on July 22. Two more fatalities were recorded in Southland and Northland on July 26 and July 30, respectively. These events coincided with the commencement of lambing and calving season, a traditionally hectic time for farmers. Adding to the concern, two individuals sustained injuries when a quad bike overturned on a Mahana farm in the Tasman District on July 15. This incident further underscores the inherent risks associated with quad bike use in rural settings. Graham Bates, WorkSafe's lead inspector says while the investigations are in their early stages, he emphasised a worrying trend, warranting immediate attention and action. Uneven terrain and inclined areas have been identified as contributing factors in some recent cases. Bates stressed the critical need for thorough risk evaluation of both terrain and tasks before operating quad bikes, particularly during this challenging season. Farm vehicle incidents rank among the two leading causes of workplace fatalities in New Zealand. This alarming statistic has led WorkSafe to designate agriculture as a key focus in its latest strategy. The organisation is targeting major risks and collaborating with the agricultural sector to enhance health and safety practices. As the farming season intensifies, WorkSafe continues to emphasise the importance of proper training, regular vehicle maintenance, and strict adherence to safety guidelines. They urge farmers to reassess their safety protocols and implement necessary changes to prevent future tragedies. NZ poultry industry on alert for avian flu threat New Zealand's poultry industry is on high alert, enhancing protection measures against the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The threat looms closer after the virus was detected on the Antarctic Peninsula in February, raising concerns about migratory birds carrying it to our shores come spring. Michael Brooks, head of the Poultry Association, describes the current situation as akin to a wartime setting. He emphasises that New Zealand and the Pacific remain the last regions free from highly pathogenic avian influenza, a status the industry is keen to maintain. The sector, still recovering from Covid-19 impacts and new welfare regulations, now faces this additional challenge. Industry organisations are arranging overseas visits for farmers to learn from countries already grappling with the disease. They're also assisting local farms in implementing stricter protective measures. Gareth van der Heyden, chief executive of Better Eggs, identifies wild birds as the main threat. He stresses the need for careful management of people, machinery, and equipment, along with ensuring bird-proof barns. Better Eggs, which produces a quarter of New Zealand's eggs, may need to move birds indoors if the disease arrives. While cooked poultry and eggs would remain safe for human consumption even if the virus reaches New Zealand, van der Heyden warns of potential egg shortages and price increases. Any outbreak requiring flock culling would lead to a period of reduced egg availability. Oamaru meat plant reduces job cut plan Lean Meats Oamaru has revised its planned workforce reduction following talks with employees. The initial estimate of nearly 100 job cuts has now been lowered to 65. Daryl Curran, national secretary of the New Zealand Meat Workers Union, reports that management has extended the consultation period by two days. This allows more time before finalising decisions on job losses at the facility, which handles ovine, goats, and young calves. The Oamaru plant is run by Chinese-owned BX Foods. Managing Director Haoran Wang explained that restructuring is necessary after a challenging year and a half.  Curran attributes the need for cost-cutting to recent investments in equipment and reduced livestock numbers. He notes that about half of the potentially affected workers are migrants on work visas, who came to New Zealand expecting three years of employment. To assist those who may lose their jobs, representatives from Immigration New Zealand and Work and Income will visit the site in the coming weeks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.