Welcome to Tussock Talk, the first electronic version of Federated Farmers High Country newsletter.

As advised in our last printed newsletter, Federated Farmers High Country is now taking advantage of the technological resources available to us and sending the newsletter by e-mail to all High Country members who have an e-mail address on the membership database.

Federated Farmers High Country is also upgrading the High Country pages on Federated Farmers web site to include more ‘news as it happens' as well as ongoing reference point for items such as back issues of the newsletter, media releases, contact information and conference and field day registration details.

Our aim here is to get more information to you on a timelier basis than previously. Check in regularly to www.fedfarm.org.nz/industry/highcountry for the latest news and events of interest to Federated Farmers High Country members.

Those members who are yet to update to electronic communication methods, would have still received this newsletter via post, and will continue to, so you will still be kept up to date with activity within Federated Farmers High Country. If you do have an e-mail address and have received a hard copy of the newsletter, then please give our membership team a call on 0800 327 646 to update your details.

If you have received an electronic copy but would prefer to receive the newsletter by post, then please call 0800 327 646 and let the team know. They will be more than happy to help.

FEDERATED FARMERS HIGH COUNTRY CHAIRPERSON, GRAHAM REED

It is fair to say that our fortunes have been a bit mixed since the last newsletter. The Minaret Land Valuation Tribunal (LVT) case appeal has been put on hold while the Accord team and Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) staff work through developing a formula for setting rentals. Both teams are looking into rentals based upon productive capacity, that is, the grazing of the Land Exclusive of Improvements (LEI) component of a pastoral lease with some recognition being made for opportunity and potential.

I am told that good progress is being made and that the chances of reaching a satisfactory resolution look promising. However, it is important that the system agreed upon will stand the test of time. It needs to be fair to both parties and get buy-in from both sides of the House.

The Lough report, called for by Minister for Biosecurity, the Hon David Carter, to ‘inform and guide improvements to rabbit management', has been recently released. I have to say that I find parts of the report disappointing. While it acknowledges that the problem is worsening in some areas, it discounts our contention that rabbits are a biodiversity problem as well as a being menace to productivity and rejects our case for assistance in the worst cases. This is short-sighted and it is to be hoped that the appropriate Ministers see differently.

The committee met with Ross Millichamp of North Canterbury Fish & Game Council recently. It would be fair to say he was somewhat uncomfortable about the Access Case taken by the Fish & Game National Council. The council recently had a Canadian salmon expert here and his view was that all stock should be excluded from spawning grounds. As with a number of other provincial Fish & Game Councils, North Canterbury is keen to work with landholders on this and other matters of mutual concern.

I am also sure that we all support the Central South Island and Otago Fish & Game Councils' in their votes of no confidence in the council's national Chief Executive.

The committee has also recently met with Dr. Jan Wright, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, regarding comments in her report, Change in the High Country, which stated that she had concerns about the quality of water in some parts of the High Country. The meeting is covered more extensively in a later article in this newsletter but I can add that both the Commissioner and Canterbury Regional Council have committed to keep us informed. We have some positive research results to counter some of the reasons for the Commissioner's comments, but one thing is certain - the water quality issue is here to stay!

Regards,

Graham Reed
Chairperson
Federated Farmers High Country
Phone:  03 315 8033
Email:  Grampians@scorch.co.nz

High Country field day 2010

The 2010 High Country field day will be on Wednesday, 10 March. The field day will feature a 4WD journey through the Nevis, meeting at Ben Nevis woolshed and finishing at Garston. An information sheet, registration form and hotel accommodation booking form can be downloaded by clicking here.

High Country conference 2010

The High Country conference will be held at The Hermitage, Mt Cook on Friday, 11 and Saturday, 12 June 2010. More details will be on the High Country page of the Federated Farmers website as they become available.

Recreational opportunities

During the 2009 High Country conference it was identified that the public were seeking access onto High Country properties for an increasing range of recreational activities. These could pose some additional responsibilities on the landholder, but may also offer new opportunities. During conference it was asked if the committee could look into these opportunities and investigate ways in which the benefits and pitfalls of the various activities could be advised to members. As an industry group, we have decided that the best way to go about this is to tap into some experience and, by and large, that experience lies with you - the landholder. So, we would really appreciate your feedback. Please let us know why people are asking for access, particularly if it is something out of the ordinary or ‘extreme' e.g. bungy jumping off a cliff face. Also, if you have any pieces of advice on how to make things easier or how to avoid problems regarding access, please pass them on, we would like to hear what they are. Your thoughts and experiences can be sent through to industry group manager, Bob Douglas, by clicking here, or via fax on 0508 327 646.

Carbon project launched

As advised in the last newsletter, Jim Morris' carbon project had received funding from the Sustainable Farming Fund and was all set to go. The project was officially launched on Ben Avon Station in November last year in front of a diverse group of supporters. Melanie Schauer, of Canterbury Regional Council's Twizel office, is acting as financial manager for the project, as well as providing administrative support. Larry Burrows, of Landcare Research will be leading the research team. Other groups and people involved include High Country farmers, Merino Inc., Land Information New Zealand, various district councils, Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand Inc., the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc., Central South Island Fish & Game Society and the Department of Conservation.

High Peak Station hosts QEII Covenanters

James and Anna Guild, of High Peak Station, played hosts to around 100 people, mainly covenanters, at a QEII field day late last year. High Peak Station is home to a 94 hectare QEII covenant which, since 1996, has protected a braided shingle riverbed, sedge land, tussocks and shrubs. The QEII National Trust described the covenanted area as a classic open space covenant with significant ecological and landscape values. At the same time as protecting these values, High Peak Station also functions as a High Country farm, running deer, sheep and cattle as well as operating as a private game estate with some 1,100 game animals. Guests at the field day were able to take advantage of the fine day, visiting and taking a walk through the covenanted area. Other than the ecological and landscape values, visitors also saw that under the covenant, the Guild's have the ability to graze, with no adverse affect on the vegetation or the landscape values that the covenant is designed to protect. High Peak Station provides us with a very good example of how conservation values and productivity can successfully co-exist.

Federated Farmers High Country vice-chairperson, Chas Todhunter

We were pleased to see Dr Jan Wright, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and Dr David Bull, at the High Country committee meeting in November 2009. Also in attendance were land advisor, Ian Brown and water and land expert, Adrian Meredith of Canterbury Regional Council.

The Commissioner had been asked to join the meeting to elaborate on her comment that there is the "potential for an irreversible decline in water quality in the High Country". She had also recommended that regional councils should introduce more vigorous monitoring rules to identify and mitigate any trend in that direction.

She explained that her comments had been motivated by the cumulative effects of changing farming practices in the High Country. She also commented that both the Department of Conservation and LINZ's approach to the situation was restricted by departmental responsibilities and regional council control does not go far enough.

When pressed about the blame being laid solely on ‘changing farming practices', the Commissioner and regional council representatives agreed that it was very difficult to be certain of the precise origin of any contaminant without considerable research. They also acknowledged that it was difficult to differentiate between effluent emanating from wild animals, including birds, and farmed animals.

The Commissioner said that there were trends that were "going in the wrong direction". She explained that phosphate, in particular, would accumulate and could not be flushed through. Dr Wright did however agree that there were various sources of phosphate, but that evidence suggested fertiliser application was the cause in many situations.

Ian Brown commented that one possible solution was for regional councils to sets caps on application, but agreed that a universal measure would be inequitable as different sites have individual characteristics that affect retention and leaching rates. He said that any rules must be practical. The Commissioner concluded by saying that one of the reasons for making the comment was to make people aware of the situation. She left feeling encouraged by the fact that Federated Farmers High Country had picked up on the issue and invited her to elaborate on it.

Chas Todhunter
Vice-chairperson
Federated Farmers High Country
Phone: 03 318 5843
Email:  chastodhunter@xtra.co.nz

Industry training for you and your team

Improve productivity with training and development for you and your staff. Industry-funded Agriculture ITO training means fewer mistakes, greater efficiency and increased motivation. Federated Farmers members also receive a fantastic discount. Contact your local Agriculture ITO advisor on 0800 691 111, to discuss a training plan for your business.

Freefall Wines

Founded by New Zealand adventurer and bungy co-founder, Henry van Asch, Freefall Wines celebrates the New Zealand passion for wine. Check out this great selection and many more at Wines Online, by clicking here.

More member benefits and offers

To view special discounts exclusive to Federated Farmers members, please call 0800 327 646 or click here to log onto our members only area.

Contracts, agreements and leases

These include land, stock, contractor, sales and purchase, agreement to grow, log books, access pads, Over Dimension Certificates and employment. Remember, it's a legal requirement to have an employment contract for EVERY employee so if you don't have a current employment agreement, then order one now. Contracts, agreements and leases are available in both electronic and hard copy formats for your convenience. To purchase, call 0800 FARMING or click here.

If you have any questions or comments about matters in this newsletter, or anything else relating to the High Country industry, please contact the High Country executive or committee by clicking here. Alternatively, you can contact industry manager, Bob Douglas, by clicking here or by calling 0800 327 646.