New Zealand needs an independent inquiry into the direction of agriculture because the discussion over farming’s effects on water quality is becoming «too politicised», an NZ parliamentary committee has been told.
Industry representatives DairyNZ and Fish & Game New Zealand appeared before the local government and environment select committee last week.
They were responding to a report on water quality from the parliamentary commissioner for the environment.
Commissioner Jan Wright in November released a report on water quality that highlighted how the conversion of beef and sheep farming to dairying increased nutrient loads on waterways. This caused a «classic economy versus environment dilemma».
«Unfortunately, this investigation has shown the clear link between expanding dairyfarming and increasing stress on water quality,» Ms Wright said.
Farm conversions result in increased nitrogen and phosphorus runoffs.
The report said the chemicals were valuable nutrients on land as they helped pasture production, but above certain levels in water they became pollutants.
The Government proposes amending the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and implementing several «bottom lines» – levels which must be met for ecosystem and human health.
The ministers for the environment and primary industries are expected to take advice to Cabinet by the middle of the year.
Both DairyNZ and Fish & Game called for the setting of water-quality limits to be sped up, so farmers have clear guidelines to work within.
Fish & Game chief executive Bryce Johnson said water quality had become a major issue of public interest.
«There does need be a more formal inquiry into where we’re going with agriculture,» Mr Johnson said.
«It’s far too important for the whole of the country … to be simply left to box on and become increasingly politicised.»
Dr Alison Dewes, who works in dairy natural resource management. said the farming industry was facing a «headwind», in which tighter money, public perceptions, and climate variation were making it increasingly harder to do business.
«It’s a real concern because farmers can’t legitimately measure or get a good feel of what’s happening in terms of their environmental effects and how they align with the rules,» Dr Dewes said.
«Many farmers, in my experience, will not change until they absolutely have to. So we need clear rules and clear limits, and we need clear resource allocation.
«A lack of clear rules, targets and measures and changing enforcement, is leading to farmers actually in my view, being victims. They haven’t got clear limits, they haven’t got a framework and they haven’t got clarity around the measuring tools.»
DairyNZ scientist Dr Mike Scarsbrook said it would be a «tough call» to stop intensification of stock conversion without the appropriate evidence of environmental impact that set water-quality levels would provide.
The dairy industry in particular acknowledged it had a challenge ahead of it.
«But farmers are ordinary New Zealanders and they want exactly the same things,» Scarsbrook said.
«They want an outcome where they can swim in their rivers.
«Some of our most polluted rivers and streams in this country are actually in urban areas. Sometimes I think the industry gets blamed for the wider problems of an increasing population and increasing demand on water supply.»
It was in the best interest of farmers to «progress limit-setting processes as rapidly as possible», DairyNZ said in its submission.
«Once limits are set farmer will know what opportunities are available and where and how they farming systems will need to respond.»
Source: Dairy Farmer Online
