Federated Farmers is calling on the next government to shift from regulatory reform to strategic investment in agriculture, releasing a five-point ‘roadmap’ ahead of November.

Wayne Langford, National President of Federated Farmers, says the platform marks a deliberate departure from the organisation’s 2023 approach.

“It’s quite a bit different to taking out the slasher and slashing the red tape like we did last time,” he says.

“This is more about actually getting on board with the government strategy for agriculture, and how we can improve and help them get there.”

The five priorities are cutting the cost of farming, enabling technology and infrastructure, empowering community and conservation, supporting young farmers and fixing local government. Federated Farmers wants 10 activities currently requiring resource consents reclassified as permitted activities, targeting processes where on-farm compliance already runs at 98% or above.

“There’s no reason why effluent management like drain maintenance and cleaning out your drains can’t be a permitted activity.

“They’ve still got a framework around them, they’re still a rule, but in a lot of places around the country you need to get a consent for them.”

Langford says the existing consenting system has not lifted compliance.

“We already have those laggards now – the system is not picking up on them.”

The sector has invested heavily in the past decade and has earned a return to a higher-trust model, he says.

A review of the Sharemilking Act is also on the list, to extend protection to contract milkers whose numbers have grown in the past decade.

“It literally is a minister or a new MP putting some real groundwork in, to see what the issue here is and getting it dealt with.

“It’s not a complicated change.”

Federated Farmers wants engagement from all parties ahead of the vote.

“We’ve written it in a way that we think is backed up by data, and that they can get amongst as well.”

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