Expect a busy year ahead

Graham Smith.

Most of us have returned to work following the holiday break reinvigorated and ready to play our part in ensuring Federated Farmers continues to make a real difference in 2016.

Like last year, one of our defining challenges continues to be water.

During 2015, Federated Farmers put plenty of resources and expertise into the Land and Water Forum (LAWF) and you can read about some of our work in Chris Allen's article on page 5.

As Chris highlights, some of the recent media coverage would have you believe that nothing is being done to find a national solution to water quality.

LAWF has hardly rated a mention of late, despite the number of organisations that have worked side by side to bring it together - and despite the fact that it passed through Cabinet in December and is now ready for public consultation.

We urge everyone to look and consider what it's all about and what direction LAWF proposes to protect our waterways and provide fair access to all.

Liz McGruddy on page 21, makes for an interesting read , "What's trending in our waterways". As Liz discusses, over the last decade, "water quality is declining" has been the rallying call of many. Small armies have assembled to debate what can be done.

But the publication of Environment Aotearoa gives us cause now to stop and take stock of both the water problem and possible solutions.

The "80 per cent no trend or improving" story does not have the same ring to it.

But as every good policy analyst knows: "the degree of clarity about the problem will influence the type and range of policy solutions, and the quality of analysis of the options".

If it is the 80/20 game, do we need a carpet bomb or a scalpel?

Our focus on science and innovation will also continue this year.

This is not about Federated Farmers undertaking scientific research; it's about us ensuring that New Zealand has the right scientific capabilities and farmers access to world class technologies to help develop new products/ services and also reduce the increasing threats to our biosecurity.

As you will be aware, new health and safety legalisation comes into effect this year.

This is an issue often discussed in the National Farming Review.

One serious injury or death is one too many, but we need to ensure that our focus is on practical education and training and not a "bureaucratic, paper led responses"

We do need to change our culture towards health and safety but not at the expense of changing our farming culture or way of life.

So I look forward to again working with many of you this year, so that we all continue to make a positive difference both within our communities and nationally.