Farmers doing their best to meet new regulations

I AM a retired Catlins farmer and recently attended a meeting about the new national water rules which was run by the Otago Regional Council in a local woolshed.

The younger generation of farmers were left trying to assess the terminology and their costs of the proposed water regulations.

The farmers, horticulturists, freezing workers, shearers and farm workers have kept our country earning the overseas funds while a lot of New Zealand was in lockdown.

New Zealand has a remarkably diverse climate, so a blanket legislation over all the provinces would be unfair and impossible to administer.

To do so would mean the ratepayers, in general, would need to carry the extra costs.

Already much has been achieved by the farmers such as fenced off rivers, creeks and dams, and water schemes installed.

They are all doing their part to improve the quality of water.

Our farmers are really being tested by legal regulation and legislation that is putting this generation of farmers at more risk of further frustration and depression.

So come on New Zealand, don’t cut off the hand that feeds you.

Alan Burgess

Owaka