West Otago sheep and beef farmers Allan and Sonia Richardson feared they could have been stripped of their long-standing organic certification after chemical residue was detected in bales of their hay during a random audit on their farm.
While the Heriot couple believed the residue came from spray drift from herbicide used on a farm being converted to forestry, the forestry company involved said evidence was inconclusive and it could not accept responsibility.
Mr Richardson said the issue was not whether a property was organic, but that forestry companies were targeting West Otago and he believed the government needed to act quickly to prevent the permanent loss of food-producing areas.
He also wanted "checks and balances" to ensure the likes of weeds, pests and wilding trees arising from forestry operations were properly dealt with.
When contacted, Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson said he shared Mr Richardson’s concerns and the government would be bringing in protections for productive land as per the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement.
"It’s a careful balance between acknowledging private property rights to plant trees while protecting rural communities from being hollowed out by excessive afforestation," he said.
Todd McClay, who is Minister of Agriculture and also Forestry, would be bringing some proposals for consultation soon.
