Federated Farmers: Debate on dairy's future welcomed

Waikato dairy chair Chris Lewis says Federated Farmers is open to debating future farming sustainability as long as it is based on scientific and technical information.

Recently, I was quoted in the media asking for a moratorium on dairy conversion.

What actually happened was that I was asked by a number of Waikato regional councillors and Federated Farmers' members to raise the subject with the Waikato Regional Council chair.

Federated Farmers thrives on a diversity of opinion and vigorous debate to reach the robust positions we advocate. So I put up the straw man at the meeting, suggesting some reasons for it and against it -- and then boom, we have a big headline!

We have discussed dairy conversion for the last 10 years at times; it's a good discussion to have.

Farmers are sensitive around this issue and any effects we could have on the environment.

As I said, we at Federated Farmers like to discuss a lot of the issues that are raised from time to time, debate them and try to come up with solutions. That's how we work.

What I think this should be based on is scientific and technical answers to the future of dairying.

To do that, local government needs to be adequately resourced to properly understand and measure the impacts and mitigation of environmental effects caused by dairying expansion.

We are looking for reform in the RMA to address this issue when you fully resource allocation.

Federated Farmers is passionate about advocating for farmers while maintaining a common-sense attitude to the issues.

We believe solutions should be based on science and apply to the environment farmers work in, as well as tailoring solutions to lessen farming's impacts. Here there is a place for both the traditional family dairy farm and larger operations.

In the Waikato, to meet everyone's needs, we have the Collaborative Stakeholder Group (CSG), which is made up of 24 industry and community representatives.

The farming community's representative James Houghton is backed up by sound policy advice from the Federation's Sally Millar.

This is a group that could decide the outcomes for future farming activities in the Waikato, so we need to be engaged with it, understand the tensions and talk about solutions. Its role is to review and synthesise technical and community information to form recommendations and to inform and guide policy development.

The CSG, while initiated by the Waikato Regional Council, acts independently. It is taking an evidenced-based and collaborative approach based on good science that reflects our community values. Whatever the government or regional councils decide going forward, they should take into account that no one size fits all, and decisions need not be based on emotion and short-sightedness.

Right now, an agenda discussion at our provincial meeting has been pounced on like a mouse by the Green Party.

The end solution needs more thought and consensus and should make room for everyone big or small.

The Waikato CSG ensures the wider community has the opportunity to be heard and involved in this process.

If you want to be heard, the group is running a series of workshops. If you are in the Waikato or Waipa catchments, it is important that your views and ideas are heard, so I encourage everyone to come along to the open days.

This will have an outcome for all people in Waikato's urban and rural landscape, so go and ask questions and get engaged.

For details on the CSG workshops, visit www.waikatoregion.govt.nz