March 31, 2022
Thanks to everyone who has taken part in discussions across the sector during consultation on agricultural emissions pricing options.
Over 7000 people have expressed their views in some way and our job now is to make recommendations that reflect what we’ve heard, within the legal requirements and timeframe the Government has set.
We’re working hard to be able to recommend a credible emissions pricing system that enables sustainable food and fibre production for future generations while remaining profitable and competitive in international markets.
At the same time we’re continuing with our work to equip farmers and growers with the information, tools and support they need to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate change.
This week we are providing expanded farm planning guidance, which now includes climate change projections and guidance on assessing the risks and opportunities for your farm system.
As farmers and growers across the country cope with weather extremes, from flooding on the East Coast to drought in the South, I hope this guidance will help people work through what a changing climate means at your place.
We’re also publishing our latest progress report, that shows farmers and growers are stepping up, with over 60% knowing their numbers and 21% having a plan to manage emissions as at the end of 2021.
As always, feel free to drop us a line on yourfeedback@hewakaekenoa.nz or talk to your industry rep.
Kelly Forster
Programme Director
All the He Waka Eke Noa Partners have spent a lot of time on a range of consultation activities, including meetings, surveys and one-on-one conversations. Feedback through the He Waka Eke Noa website and email is also being analysed and shared with all Partners.
There are some clear themes coming through.
There is a large amount of concern about the potential impact of any levy on the financial viability of farming.
There is a clear preference for a Farm-level option, as it gives farmers control over managing their farm businesses and emissions profile, and provides direct incentives for action on-farm.
At the same time, there are concerns about aspects of this option, including equity and availability of mitigation options across different types of farming, administrative costs, and the sector’s readiness to implement the system by 2025.
You can read more about what we heard in our media release here.
He Waka Eke Noa’s expanded farm plan guidance includes additional information on adapting to climate change. It also provides information on how actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions may impact on water quality by reducing contaminant leaching.
The farm plan approach recognises the individual nature of each farm and that choices about how to reduce farm emissions and increase resilience to a changing climate are for each farmer and grower to make. This guidance is intended to provide useful information to support the decision making process.
Find the Greenhouse gases: Farm Planning Guidance, Edition 3 here.
The Crown Research Institutes AgResearch and NIWA have contributed to the science underpinning this guidance.
The full AgResearch report and NIWA report are available on our website.
The latest progress report shows that the He Waka Eke Noa programme hugely exceeded its milestone of 25% of farmers knowing their numbers by the end of 2021. It fell slightly short of the milestone of 25 % having a written plan in place to measure and manage their emissions because Covid-19 restrictions impacted on plans for farm planning workshops.
He Waka Eke Noa Partners are confident that farmers will continue to make use of new tools and guidance and contribute to meeting New Zealand’s international commitments to reduce emissions.
Find the Milestone update and six-month progress report (October 2021 – March 2022) here.
Programme Director Kelly Forster spoke to Vincent Heeringa on his podcast, This Climate Business, correcting his reporting that the options He Waka Eke Noa options would only deliver a 1 percent reduction in emissions, and addressing other criticisms of the sector’s approach.
Listen here.