Cleaner farming

Most industries have harmed the environment in different ways since the industrial revolution. But crop and animal farming’s impact on the environment predates the industrial revolution by many thousands of year with massive land clearing and burning of native vegetation to prepare land for crops and agriculture. This is not to say farming is wrong but even in NZ, many industries have had to clean up their act since the RMA was released in the early 1990s.

I work in the sawmilling industry and sheer ignorance which led to the use of various environmentally damaging chemicals, some of which were fortunately banned decades ago, has resulted in an industry that today utilises most of its residues and by and large has been a clean industry for over 25 years.

But dairy farming in particular has been slow to react and not surprisingly, many Kiwis are not happy about our polluted waterways caused by runoff of fertilisers and effluent.

Just because the dairy and meat industry is our largest industry and some newer farmers are struggling due to massive debt cannot excuse continued contamination of our waterways.

Sure, many farmers have cleaned up their act but the massive change in land use in places like Canterbury and the McKenzie Country with the over allocation of water in Canterbury resulting on low water flows, water contamination and damage to the natural environment of the McKenzie Basin should not have been permitted and further expansion should be stopped immediately.

The National Government was too scared to rein in its support base of dairy farmers but at least this coalition Government is trying. Yes, pain for some farmers but any investment carries risk.

Paul Carpenter, Rotorua.