The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is an applied research and information transfer organisation responsible primarily to New Zealand arable growers.
There are over 2,700 farmers in New Zealand involved in arable cropping activities, with combined farm gate sales of approximately NZ $1billion, including cereal grains, pulses, maize grain and specialised seed crops for export and domestic markets. Annual crops are grown from the northernmost parts of New Zealand down to Southland, with maize being the dominant crop in the North Island whereas cereal grains (wheat, barley) and seed production (grass seeds, legume seeds and vegetable seeds) is carried out mainly in Canterbury and Southland.
The Government has commenced a public consultation process on proposed freshwater reforms developed in response to increasing public concern over the declining quality of New Zealand’s waterways. The official closing date for submissions is 17 October, however late submissions will be taken
until 31 October 2019.
TheAction for Healthy Waterways document sets out a package of proposals to address two key government objectives around water:
Stop further degradation of New Zealand’s freshwater resources and start making immediate improvements so that water quality is materially improving within five years.
Reverse past damage to bring New Zealand’s freshwater resources, waterways and ecosystems to a healthy state within a generation.
FAR has summarised the key issues of relevance to the arable industry (see article below).
We encourage all members of the arable industry to read the full document, attend consultation meetings and, if they have concerns about the proposals, to make a formal submission. Information on how make a submission is included in the article below. Submissions must be in by Thursday 17 October.
