Water quality, emissions and public perception hot topics for dairy in election year

Water quality, greenhouse gas emissions and public perception are the most pressing issues for dairy farmers as the country gears up for the general election in September, DairyNZ chairman Michael Spaans says. By: ESTHER TAUNTON
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About 120 farmers attended DairyNZ’s Farmers’ Forum in Stratford, where Spaans told them that social media gave farmers an opportunity to influence perception of their industry.
«Public perception is crucial in election year,» he said.
«The Greens and the likes of Fish & Game use the opportunity to take a swing at dairy but public perception of the industry has actually been improving in the last 12 years.»
A DairyNZ survey had found 59 per cent of New Zealanders thought dairy farmers were doing a good job – with just one sticking point.
«What they’re saying is that we need to do more around water quality and we’re working on that.»
The survey also found 48 per cent of Kiwi were unable to recall a story about dairying, Spaans said.
«So although you and I are really sensitive to negativity, half of New Zealand don’t remember it.»
Social media was a powerful tool farmers could use to further improve public perception of the dairy industry..
Reaction to TVNZ’s Price of Milk documentary had been almost exclusively negative but farmers had been quick to put their case forward online, Spaans said.
«Farmers standing up on social media to say [host] Cameron Bennett was wrong, that’s actually really powerful,» he said.
Water was another issue where farmers could put their own story forward.
«We’re improving on phosphorus and E. coli but where we’re not improving is with nitrogen and we need to continue to work on that,» Spaans said.
DairyNZ was also working to research and improve the industry’s environmental impact through greenhouse gases and educating farmers would be key to successfully reducing emissions.
«As well as researching how we can reduce greenhouse gases, we’re working closely with the Ministry for the Environment and coming up with dairy education plans,» Spaans said.
Poor milk production in recent seasons had meant the organisation received less money through levies and had to cut its cloth accordingly, he said.
«We don’t want to cut research, we don’t want to stop investing in development but we have had to look at where we’re spending.»
As well as investing $5 million in the Southern Dairy Hub research and demonstration farm outside Invercargill, DairyNZ was funding two projects in Taranaki, one of which focused on winter milk production.
«There’s a real opportunity to boost winter milk in Taranaki, particularly around the coast,» Spaans said.
The second project to be funded would look at how supplements could be used in different systems in the region and was on a larger scale than similar research already carried out.
As DairyNZ had reassessed where its levy dollars went, Spaans urged farmers to put similar consideration into their own spending, even as dairy payouts stabilised.
«I believe the $6/kg is quite solid and there could be a bit more,» he said.
«But it’s important to make sure that when the money comes through, if there’s any extra you use it wisely.»
 
 
Source: Stuff
Link: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/92817100/water-quality-emissions-and-public-perception-hot-topics-for-dairy-in-election-year

Mirá También

Así lo expresó Domingo Possetto, secretario de la seccional Rafaela, quien además, afirmó que a los productores «habitualmente los ignoran los gobiernos». Además, reconoció la labor de los empresarios de las firmas locales y aseguró que están «esperanzados» con la negociación entre SanCor y Adecoagro.

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