Neal Wallace of the Otago Daily Times on the increasing pressure felt by farmers to lessen their environmental impact.
However, AgResearch social scientist Dr Neels Botha says that current systems are inadequate for supporting farmers in this, and that systems will need to improve as pressure intensifies.
An excerpt: (read in full here)
“Dr Botha said while policies were setting higher environmental standards, farmers were not helped by an inconsistent approach by regional councils.
“Some were helpful, some performed policing roles and in other regions the relationship with farmers had deteriorated to a standoff.
“There was a view among farmers that while councils set the rules, they would not advise farmers how to meet those rules.”