RURAL 16 <strong>Ashburton</strong> <strong>Courier</strong>, <strong>November</strong> 4, <strong>2021</strong> Environment awards go ahead Covid conditionshave changed the waythe New ZealandFarmEnvironment Trust will run the <strong>2021</strong>/2022 Ballance Farm Environment Awards(BFEA) throughout the country. The awards include anew Catchment GroupAward, which recognises theefforts of aruralcommunity group working together to improve water quality in local rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands. Entries close at the end of <strong>November</strong>. New Zealand Farm EnvironmentTrustchair Joannevan Polanen said the regional committees had worked with farmers and growers in their communities to ensure aworthwhile and Joanne van Polanen rewardingprogramme was completed. ‘‘Itismoreimportant than ever that thegreatinitiatives and work being done by farmers and growers is being celebratedand shared with others,’’she said. TheBFEAprogramme had been adapted forcovid conditionsand includesthe requirement for all judges andentrantstobe vaccinated, andjustone round of judging to be completed. ‘‘Whilst we have hadto changeour usual processes in an efforttokeep our people andparticipantssafe, we have carefully planned and adaptedour usualpractices to ensurethat judgingisstill thorough and complete and entrantswillstill receive the valuablefeedbackthatmakes entering the awardsso worthwhile,’’ she said. Mrsvan Polanensaid althoughindividualshad the Mbovis, beef property cleared Abeefpropertyin<strong>Ashburton</strong> is the latest to be clearedof Mycoplasma bovis. It was deemed acleared confirmed property, not an active confirmedproperty, as the numberofinfectedstock and stockatrisk of being infected, wereconfirmedafter they wenttoslaughter. Mycoplasma bovis programme directorStuart Anderson said the property identified was not the Five Star BeefFeedlot, at Wakanui, whichremained under a restrictedplacenotice. Thenumber of active infected properties nationwide remainedatfour; with 268cleared confirmed properties. The cleared propertyhas undergone cleaningand disinfection and was able to resumenormal farming operations without restrictions. Mr Anderson said the Mbovis programme was still working closelywith ANZCO to plan the bestapproachfor depopulation of the Five Star Beef Feedlot. ‘‘The feedlotisofsignificant economic importance to the local community and careful consideration is required to minimise the impact of depopulation on all those connected to it,’’ he said. ‘‘This will be one of the last properties to be depopulated right to choosewhether or not to be vaccinated,the community natureofthe programme, including awards functions and field day events meantthattoalign with government’scovid protection framework, it was the trust’spolicy allBFEA entrants are requiredtobe vaccinated.’’ ‘‘Wehopethat entrants will appreciate that this decision isinthe best interests of all involved. ‘‘Throughour regional networks, partners, sponsors andentrants across the country, we have alarge number of people involved in the awards andweneedto ensurewearerunning asafe programme for all.’’ due to the scale of the depopulation exercise and Five Star’s operation. ‘‘We must be confidentthat there is minimalrisk that any farms supplying the feedlotare not infected, whichwouldleave the door openfor reinfection,’’ he said. ‘‘The exacttiming of depopulation has not been determinedand needs to be plannedwell in advance. It will not be this year.’’ www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz Freshwater social impact report findings The Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trustisholding a communitypresentation tomorrow of the “Essential Freshwater Social Impact Report, <strong>Ashburton</strong> District”. The report was commissioned by thetrust to see what social impact the new Freshwater 2020 legislation would haveon people trying to achieve the end levelsand timeframes. The presentationwill be held at the BradfordRoom, of the <strong>Ashburton</strong>Trust Event Centre from10.30amto 12.30pm. CovidLevel2rulesapply with facemasks, and social distancing guidelineskeeping one metreapart. People wanting to attend need to registerbyemail to rst.midcanterbury@gmail. com Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust chairman Josh Dondertmansaid among those at the meeting were expected to be anumber of rural stakeholders,and thetrust were happy to present to othergroups if they were approached. The report would also be uploaded earlynext week to the Rural Support Trust webpage for the general public to access, he said. Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust wellness coordinator Frances Beeston said the trust commissioned the report because they believed therewas anxiety within the communitybut needed to get an independent view,soinitiated gettinga report on the social impact within the Mid Canterbury community. It was preparedand written by Rachael Inch,and peer reviewed by Dr Heather Collins. The report can also be emailed to anyonewho would like acopy by contacting the aboveemail address, Ms Beeston said. Clear rules call DAIRYLANE MAINTENANCE DairyNZ and Beef +Lamb NewZealand are callingfor proposed new freshwater farm planrulestobeclear andachievable. Bothorganisations support freshwater farm plans, in principle, butseek clarity with government on how rules fit with broader regionaland catchment planning and consenting, and opportunities for industry assurance programmes and catchment collectives. The consultation for thedesign of freshwater farmplans andstock exclusion regulations(changes to the lowslope map) haveclosed but DairyNZ strategy and investment leader –responsibledairyDr David Burger raisedmany points in the organisation’s submission. He questioned how freshwaterfarmplans would be used and rolled out, the roleof existing farm plans, certification and auditing, how farm plans relate to regional plans andsensitivitiesonwhathappens with the data. “The plan’spurpose and relationshipwith regionalrules needs greater clarity,’’ he said. 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