Early Bird I Monday September 23rd 2024

Property rights at centre of new resource management laws, innovative crops tackle dairy farm nitrogen leaching, and B+LNZ call for farmers to join facial eczema study. 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! Property rights at centre of new resource management laws The government has announced two new laws are set to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA). This change, spearheaded by RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court, aims to address longstanding issues with the current system. The new approach places property rights at its core, potentially easing restrictions on land use and development. This shift could have significant implications for rural landowners and farmers across the country. The new laws aim to streamline processes, with ten core design features announced. Key points for rural stakeholders include, a narrower focus on managing actual environmental effects of activities, greater use of national standards to reduce the need for resource consents, a shift from pre-activity consenting to compliance monitoring and enforcement, simplified planning processes, with one regulatory plan per region, and faster, cheaper processes with less reliance on litigation. An Expert Advisory Group has been established to develop the details of the new system. The group includes members with experience in primary industries, environmental law, and Māori rights and interests, ensuring a broad range of perspectives are considered. The government aims to have key aspects of the new system agreed upon by Cabinet before the end of 2024, with legislation to be introduced and passed before the next election.  Innovative crops tackle dairy farm nitrogen leaching A groundbreaking farm trial in North Canterbury is yielding remarkable results in the battle against nitrogen leaching from dairy farms. Early-sown oats and Italian ryegrass are proving highly effective at absorbing excess urine from winter grazing cows, potentially offering a new tool to clean up New Zealand's waterways. Tom Turner’s Waimakariri Gorge farm is the site of this trial conducted by Plant & Food Research, and reports significant reductions in nitrogen leaching. The catch crops are not only capturing soil nitrogen but also contributing to carbon sequestration, marking a win-win for environmental management and farm productivity. Shane Maley, field operations science team leader at Plant & Food Research, has been closely involved with the trial. The team initially experimented with small strips of oats, and to their surprise, the crops thrived even in mid-winter conditions, effectively taking up nitrogen. The problem these trials address is substantial. Dairy cows can urinate up to twelve times daily, each time depositing an average of two litres. This results in an estimated nitrogen application rate of around 600 kilograms per hectare. Autumn and winter pose the highest risk for nitrate leaching due to low temperatures, slow plant uptake, and increased rainfall and drainage. The results have been eye-opening. Maley reports a 40 percent reduction in sediment movement on the farm. Moreover, the catch crops are capturing between 40 and 60 percent of potential nitrogen losses. The success of these trials has led to expanded research. Plant & Food Research is now working with farmers in high country areas, Central Otago, and cooler inland regions around Wānaka and Middlemarch. Local catchment groups are also actively involved, demonstrating a community-wide commitment to sustainable farming practices. For farmers interested in learning more about catch crops, Maley recommends visiting the Plant & Food Research website, as well as their Facebook and Instagram pages for detailed information and updates. Medical industry drives growth in meat sector While red meat exports have faced challenges recently, a niche area of the industry is thriving. Demand for blood and gland products, used in vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices, has surged, offering a ray of hope for Kiwi farmers. The meat industry has long aimed to maximise value from every animal, utilising what's known as the "fifth quarter" - everything that's not meat, including tallow, bone meal, offal, and blood. Despite an overall decline in fifth-quarter exports last year, blood and gland products have emerged as a standout success story. Exports of these vital medical ingredients soared by an impressive 118% to reach $270 million in the last financial year. This growth comes at a crucial time, as the industry grapples with softer demand from China for traditional red meat products. The United Kingdom, Denmark, and India have emerged as key markets for these high-value animal by-products. Exports to the UK jumped by 88% to $22 million, while Denmark saw a 34% increase to $18 million. India, with its ambitious plans to become a global pharmaceutical hub, recorded a significant 53% rise to $7 million. India's growing interest in New Zealand's blood and gland products stems from the country's disease-free status. This makes our animal-derived materials highly sought after for producing top-quality serums and other medical products. The Meat Industry Association sees this as a golden opportunity for growth. They're actively working to expand sales in this lucrative market, recognizing the potential to offset challenges in other areas of the meat sector. The success in blood and gland products also underscores the reputation of New Zealand's agricultural sector for producing high-quality, safe products. Our nation's disease-free status and stringent quality controls are paying dividends in this specialised market. Southland farmers urged to monitor effluent ponds as rain persists Relentless rain and challenging ground conditions in the South have triggered a call for farmers to closely monitor their effluent pond levels. Environment Southland is urging dairy farmers with nearly full effluent ponds to contact the council immediately to prevent overflows. Dean Rabbidge, Federated Farmers Southland meat and wool chairman, describes the situation as "relentless," with wet weather persisting since March. Farmers have faced daily rainfall of about 10mm, resulting in waterlogged paddocks and muddy gateways, significantly limiting dry areas for livestock. Despite these trying conditions, Rabbidge notes that stock survival has been remarkably good. He encourages farmers who are struggling to seek advice and support to navigate these challenging times. The Southland Rural Support Trust has received numerous calls from concerned farmers. Sheep farmers are grappling with cold, wet conditions and the loss of older lambs, while dairy farmers face issues with earlier calving and limited feed availability. Fiona Comer, the Trust's co-ordinator, reveals that feedback from primary sector professionals indicates significantly higher stress levels among farmers compared to the usual for this time of year. The Trust recently met with industry stakeholders to address these concerns. In Otago, the situation is equally challenging. Tom Pinckney, chairman of the Otago Rural Support Trust, reports calls about wet and cold weather, with recent snowfall contributing to lambing losses. Both Pinckney and Comer strongly encourage any farmers struggling with these conditions to reach out to their respective Rural Support Trusts for assistance. The trusts can be contacted at 0800 787-254. B+LNZ call for farmers to join facial eczema study Gisborne/Tairāwhiti farmers have a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research aimed at eliminating facial eczema in sheep. Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for more participants in their nationwide sheep poo study, with the deadline fast approaching. The study, a key component of the Eliminating Facial Eczema Impacts programme, kicks off next month. While 200 farmers across New Zealand have already joined, B+LNZ needs to reach a target of 350 participants, with 22 farmers required from each of the 16 regions, including Gisborne/Tairāwhiti. Participation in the study is straightforward, requiring farmers to collect sheep poo samples every two weeks from October to May. B+LNZ covers all costs associated with sampling kits and return packaging. The time commitment is minimal - less than 45 minutes per fortnight - but the potential benefits for the entire sector are significant. Researchers will analyse the samples for fungal spores associated with facial eczema, providing crucial data on the disease risk across different regions. Participating farmers will receive free facial eczema spore counts throughout the season, access to an online map showing results, and networking opportunities with other farmers. Tairāwhiti farmers interested in joining this important research initiative must register their interest on the B+LNZ website by October 4.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.