Early Bird I Monday October 14th 2024

Southland farmers united in stand-off against Fish and Game, rural lenders slash interest rates, and Alliance set to reveal fate of its Smithfield plant this week. Welcome to Proud Country's Early Bird - The top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand delivered to you by 5am, because who doesn’t need better chat beyond the weather! Southland farmers united in stand-off against Fish and Game Southland's rural community is taking a united stand against what they perceive as unfair treatment by environmental groups, with Federated Farmers Southland urging its members to withdraw angler access to their land and boycott fishing licences in response to recent developments. This action comes in the wake of a Court of Appeal decision regarding the Southland Water and Land Plan, which could potentially require more than 3,000 local farmers to obtain resource consents for routine farming activities. Jason Herrick, president of Southland Federated Farmers, says that while members have allowed anglers onto their land out of goodwill for years, the constant opposition to their work and anti-farming rhetoric from Fish & Game has eroded their patience to breaking point. As a result, they're calling on farmers to remove access signs and replace them with orange ribbons as a visual representation of their growing frustration with the current situation. Herrick is quick to clarify that farmers aren't aiming to damage access signs, and the action is specifically limited to the Southland region, adding that while river access isn't being completely cut off, anglers may need to walk further to reach their preferred fishing spots. Fish and Game Southland maintains that their actions are aimed at protecting waterways and fish habitats, with manager Zane Moss advocating for targeted regulations. Moss suggests that Environment Southland should implement rules for the riskiest practices, thereby avoiding the need for all farmers to seek individual consents. Rural lenders slash interest rates A welcome financial boost has arrived as major rural lenders announce interest rate cuts. This move follows the Reserve Bank's decision to lower the official cash rate by half a percentage point to 4.75%. Rabobank and ASB took the lead, announcing a reduction of 0.5% on their rural loan interest rates. Other major banks, including Westpac, ANZ, and BNZ, are following suit, lowering rates for both rural and business loans. The Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee made the decision against a backdrop of subdued economic activity. They noted weak business investment, soft consumer spending, and low productivity growth as key factors constraining economic activity. Importantly for the rural sector, inflation has now fallen within the target range of 1-3%. This slowing inflation is evident in the latest food price data, with only a 1.2% increase in the year to September. While grocery prices saw a 2.7% rise, driven by significant increases in items like olive oil, the overall trend suggests easing inflationary pressures. Alliance set to reveal fate of its Smithfield plant this week The fate of Timaru's Alliance Smithfield plant will be determined this week, following the end of staff consultations over its proposed closure.  Wayne Shaw, Alliance Group general manager processing and safety, says they remain on track to make a decision by this Friday. Alliance has stated that while redeployment opportunities will be offered, significant redundancies are likely if the proposal goes ahead, which are likely to impact more than 600 staff.  This development follows recent changes within Alliance Group, including the closure of its Timaru and Ōamaru butcher shops.  Wet weather linked to rising salmonella cases in southern dairy herds There has been a significant increase in salmonella cases among dairy herds in Southland and South Otago, as farmers are already grappling with challenging weather conditions and the demands of calving season. This season has brought a noticeable surge in cases, with exceptionally wet weather throughout late August, September, and October likely playing a significant role in elevating stress levels among animals. The Ministry for Primary Industries has confirmed an uptick in salmonella cases in the Southland region compared to the previous year, emphasising that animals are at heightened risk of disease following recent weather events. Infected cows typically exhibit symptoms such as diarrhoea, reduced milk production, and rapid weight loss. The disease spreads through contaminated faeces, underscoring the importance of early detection and isolation of affected animals. Early identification is crucial and animals should be isolated immediately to minimise any potential outbreak. Hawke's Bay local crowned 2024 Young Grower of The Year And Hawke’s Bay’s Grace Fulford, has claimed the top honour at the 2024 Young Grower of The Year competition.  Fulford, who manages quality and compliance at T&G Global, outperformed five other contenders in a range of challenging tasks, including both hands-on and theoretical challenges. Contestants tackled modules covering various aspects of fruit and vegetable cultivation, including machinery operation, crop nutrition, and integrated pest management. Jamie Wells, an agronomist from Pukekohe, secured the runner-up position, while Gisborne's Pip Terekia earned accolades for her public speaking skills. The Young Grower competition offers a platform for growers under 30 to demonstrate their abilities and connect with industry veterans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.