Source: Federated Farmers of New Zealand
Farm plans a step in the right direction for farmers Source: Federated Farmers
— Federated Farmers is welcoming Government changes to the farm plan system, saying they provide much-needed clarity and make the system more pragmatic for farmers.
Federated Farmers national president Colin Hurst says the changes address several of the organisation’s key concerns.
"This should give farmers much greater certainty about what will be expected of them," Hurst says.
"We’ve been clear that farm plans can have a role to play in improving freshwater outcomes, but only if they are practical, proportionate and reduce red tape rather than adding to it.
"Today’s announcement gets us much closer to that sort of system.
"We’re particularly pleased that not every farm will require certification and auditing, and where certification is required, it’ll generally apply only to the higher-risk activity that triggers it, rather than the whole farm.
"That’s a really big win for farmers who might, for example, have a relatively small area of their farm subject to intensive winter grazing or irrigation.
"Under the previous approach, that could have dragged the whole farm into certification."
Hurst says the changes should help ensure the level of regulatory oversight is better matched to the environmental risk.
"Low-risk farming activities shouldn’t be buried under layers of needless paperwork designed for higher-risk activities.
"The principle that requirements should be proportionate to risk is absolutely the right one.
"We’re also pleased to see greater emphasis on certifiers and auditors having practical knowledge of farm systems and the actions farmers can take to protect freshwater quality.
"That’s important if the Government expects all farmers to have their first plans in place within five years.
"We need people doing this work who understand farming in the real world, not just people who understand compliance."
Federated Farmers also welcomes changes to certification and audit frequency, a simpler pass-or-fail grading system and the ability for farmers to put issues right within three months.
"Farmers should be given a reasonable opportunity to fix something that hasn’t been done right, rather than being caught in a complicated compliance system where one issue can have knock-on consequences for future audits," Hurst says.
"These changes make the system much more straightforward and practical."
Federated Farmers has consistently argued farm plans must meet four bottom lines.
First, farm plans should replace regulation, not add to it.
Hurst says this remains the most important issue still to be resolved.
"We’re pleased with the direction of travel today, but the real test will be how farm plans fit into the wider resource management system.
"We don’t want farmers completing a farm plan while still having to navigate a separate maze of overlapping rules, permits and resource consents.
"Much of this will come down to the future National Policy Direction under the new replacement RMA system.
"The Government is planning further announcements on this shortly, and we’ll be looking closely to make sure farm plans genuinely become a tool for simplifying compliance."
Second, farm plans must be proportionate, practical and scaled to risk.
"Today’s changes are a big step towards that principle, particularly by focusing certification and auditing on higher-risk activities," Hurst says.
Third, farm plans should be auditable, but not every farm plan should be audited.
"We are pretty close to getting what we wanted here".
"The fact that only specified higher-risk activities trigger certification and auditing, and that certification can be limited to that activity rather than the whole farm, is a much more sensible approach."
Fourth, existing farm plans should be recognised.
Hurst says this remains an area where more work is needed.
"Farmers have already invested time and money in farm plans through industry programmes and other initiatives. We don’t want them being forced to start again from scratch.
"There is potential for approved industry organisations to certify and audit their own existing plans, which could help avoid duplication, but we need to see how that works in practice."
Hurst says Federated Farmers will continue working with Government as the wider resource management framework takes shape.
"We’re pleased to see the Government listening to farmers and moving the farm plan system in a much more pragmatic direction.
"There are still some tweaks we’d like to see – and we’ll keep pushing for them – but overall, this is a positive step in the right direction.
"Farmers want to do the right thing for their land and water.
"What they need is a system that gives them clear expectations, recognises the work they’re already doing and lets them get on with farming responsibly.
"That’s what farm plans should be about."
ENDS <b>For more information contact:</b>
<b>Colin Hurst, Federated Farmers president, 027 689 5898</b>
Simon Edwards | Senior Communications Advisor, Federated Farmers
Email: sedwards@fedfarm.org.nz, Mobile: +64 (0)27 484 8892
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