Member Advisory

COVID-19: Wednesday 22 April 2020

Better together

We can keep operating as an essential service and we appreciate the ongoing support of our 13,000 members. Remember we are funded from a voluntary membership so please join if you are not a member and encourage your friends and neighbours to join if you are.

We are updating our website as new information comes to light so please click COVID-19 Updates on our web page. our web page.

1. What will the Tuesday 28 April move to COVID-19 Level 3 look like?

Socially not much will change when we move to Level 3 - the key message is: still stay at home if you can (including your young children), limit travel and limit time spent near people you don’t know. A greater range of services will become available where this can be done without physical contact with others. It may mean that you can extend your bubble to include another household – but be aware that this increases the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19.

Business-wise: A move to a COVID-19 Level 3 will mean all primary sector businesses (including forestry), retail, takeaway food, click and collect, manufacturing, and construction businesses will be able to operate, provided they can do safely.

The key Message is the same - maintain safe practices around physical distancing, hygiene and cleaning, with moving goods and livestock.
Those businesses that operated under Level 4 will essentially continue as before – the difference being that access to a wider range of services will be possible and it will no longer be to carry out essential tasks. Book ahead as clearly there will be a backlog of jobs that did not get done under Level 4.

Importantly employees, contract and share milkers and farm owners will be able to shift to new properties (this was an important part of Team Ag’s request to enable Moving Day to proceed)

Businesses that can operate in alert Level 3 include:

Primary sector businesses that provided essential goods and services during Level 4
Forestry including harvesting, wood processing, and forestry sales and exports
Floriculture including bulb and seed growing, harvesting, processing, and sales and exports
Wool and fibre industries including handling, shearing, scouring, and sales and exports.
Farmgate and cellar door sales - for delivery or contactless pick up only.

Businesses providing support services to the primary sector provided they can operate safely, including (but not limited to)

farriers, fencers, pest management operators (including vector control), farm advisors, research and science services, wholesalers, firewood suppliers, timber manufacturers and suppliers, farm property sales agents, construction of farm sheds, barns and herd homes, routine plant, farm and gear maintenance, manufacture, distribution and application of agricultural input products, production and installation of frost protection fans
Stock sales, wool sales and auctions (public must not attend and they should be run online where possible.
Retail businesses can operate, as long as they can offer contactless delivery or pre-arranged collection including agricultural supply stores, pet stores, butcher shops, bakeries and greengrocers, restaurants, cafes, takeaways and cellar doors

One metre vs two-metre separation distances

Keeping one metre between workers is permitted under Level 3 provided a record is kept of who is working together, the interaction between groups of workers is limited, surfaces are disinfected and high hygiene standards are maintained.If you can work efficiently by maintaining greater than one metre apart, you are advised to do so.

COVID-19 Safety Plans for Level 3

Under Level 3 all businesses that are permitted to resume operations need to have a COVID-19 safety plan in place that sets out how they’ll operate safely. If any of your contractors or other farm supply businesses are looking for advice on how to create a COVID safety plan refer them to WorkSafe’s template can be downloaded here.

Businesses that start-up under Level 3 do not have to present this plan in order to operate but will be expected to produce it when requested by WorkSafe, who will be conducting checks across New Zealand and all sectors.

For businesses already operating as an essential service under Alert Level 4, this start-up plan is not required. However, the controls that you have in place need to continue when we transition to Level 3.

Further Information:
MPI
Main page: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/protection-and-response/coronavirus/
Details of what businesses can operate under Level 3:
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/protection-and-response/coronavirus/primary-sector-businesses-services-and-support-services/primary-sector-businesses-in-alert-level-3/
How to operate Safely: Advice for farmers, lifestyle blocks and other primary sector businesses and support services https://www.mpi.govt.nz/protection-and-response/coronavirus/advice-for-farms-and-agriculture-businesses/advice-for-farms-and-agriculture-businesses-in-level-3/

Employment advice on Employment New Zealand’s website:
https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/other-types-of-leave/coronavirus-workplace/

2. Moving on Gypsy day can go ahead as planned

This morning the Minister of Agriculture announced that Moving Day will go ahead as planned this year, but with strict controls to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The importance of this day has been recognised by the Government.

As reported last week a “Moving Day Working Group” consisting of Federated Farmers, DairyNZ, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG) and Fonterra representatives submitted a proposal to the government seeking clarity on how Moving Day could occur safely and efficiently. We are pleased to have received a very quick and positive response. It will be a load off a lot of people’s minds, knowing that Moving Day will be able to go ahead when planned. Moving Day will still be permitted to occur should we still be at, or moved back to, Alert Level 4.

The human safety protocols applying to Moving Day should be used for all farmers and employees shifting locations under COVID-19 Level 3.

Make plans now and secure your bookings
Remember that a significant backlog of work will have built up by the time we move to Level 3 so make sure you have firm bookings for house cleaners, with removal companies, Stock transporters and, if necessary, ferry bookings as space will probably be tight.

Details of what will be required will be released in early May. A high-level Q & A is on DairyNZ's website here.

3. ANZAC Day – Let’s not forget those that gave up so much in two World Wars

New Zealand Defence Force together with the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association, have initiated a “Stand At Dawn” campaign that calls for New Zealanders worldwide to take a moment to remember our fallen servicemen and women and all those who served abroad and kept the home fires burning.

People can join at 6 am on 25 April by standing at their letterbox, front door, lounge rooms or other places while staying within their bubble.

Coverage of the official dawn service will commence via Radio NZ National and live on the internet (details to be confirmed).

4. Wage subsidy and Leave support schemes – Can farmers apply?

The government’s COVID-19 financial support schemes are open for farmers to apply to, provided you meet the criteria. While the application process itself may seem fairly straightforward with limited requirements, the government is retrospectively auditing samples of those who had applied for and been paid these support schemes.

For the wage subsidy scheme, you will need to be able to demonstrate your business must have experienced a minimum 30% decline in actual or predicted revenue for one month when compared with the same month last year, and that decline is related to COVID-19.

Farmers running tourism-related businesses should seek advice from your accountant on how losses may be attributed to that business and reflected in any application and funding.

Clearly, some farming operations have been impacted by COVID-19, drought, reduced meat processing capacity and lack of available feed, and this may take some sorting out. For that reason we strongly recommend you talk to your accountant before applying. A summary of both the wage subsidy and leave support schemes, and other components of the support package, is available on our website at this link. Work and Income provide further guidance and a decision making tree to assist you in deciding which may apply at this link.

5. Essential Burning can take place under Alert Level 3

Under Level 3 farmers can burn if it is essential, and complies with all regional FENZ and council requirements.

Essential fires include burning crop stubble, land preparation for crops and forestry management, and assisting horticultural production such as orchard waste.

It is important to keep firefighters safe in their bubbles and not attend unnecessary callouts.

You are strongly encouraged to use the FENZ website https://www.checkitsalright.nz/ or to discuss the burn with your local FENZ staff before you drop that match.

Gavin Forrest
GM Policy & Advocacy
Federated Farmers of NZ