Soil moisture levels are adequate for now, but we do need more rain shortly, otherwise it will start to get worrisome.
The outlook for sheep is a little bit better than previously, but still far below the acceptable levels.
The beef industry hasn’t been too bad, but still is not good enough.
The dairy outlook is reasonable at the moment, and tracking at similar levels as the last season, but in today’s world you cannot take anything for granted.
The national annual meeting for Federated Farmers was held at the start of the month in Wellington. It was a productive week where we were able to network with other farmers from different areas.
At the meeting, we emphasised problems at the local regulatory level, including Waitaki District Council’s long-term plan regarding zoning and overlays. This is still an unresolved issue, which will require a lot of attention by everyone affected. At the district regulatory level, Federated Farmers has put through submissions asking for the delay of the notification for the Land & Water Plans for both Otago Regional Council and Environment Canterbury, until there is more clarity on the new national standards which the government is expected to announce.
On both of these regional and district plans, Federated Farmers is highly concerned regarding the lack of communication and consultation with the rural communities and what sort of implications the plans could have on our rural economy’s viability.
Federated Farmers national dairy chairman Richard McIntyre has been making good progress on behalf of rural New Zealand to inquire into rural banking terms, in particular the excessive margins the banks are charging their rural customers. Hopefully this will have some positive outcomes in due course.
After the fire near Duntroon in March this year, which started on a Department of Conservation reserve and endangered property and people, a meeting has been organised as an initiative of the landowners and the Doc regional manager Gabe Davis. It was attended by the landowners, mana whenua, Doc, Waitaki District Council, high country farmers and the University of Otago. The landowners, mana whenua and Doc have agreed to put a trial in place to keep the vegetation under control, to ensure there is no further fire risk. The parties will meet next week, and have agreed to create a management plan to reduce the fire risk and enhance the biodiversity of the reserve.
The University of Otago is providing assistance to identify the rare plants and fauna which will be part of the reserve. This approach from Doc is refreshing, and hopefully will set an example for similar reserves in fire-risk areas.
Finally, Federated Farmers North Otago are hosting a session at 7.30pm on Monday, August 5, at the Kurow Hotel, in conjunction with Upper Waitaki Young Farmers. This session will have two motivational speakers — Razor Reynolds from Moral Compass, assisted by one of our local identities. I encourage all to attend and have a catch-up.
