Farmers sign landmark agreement with foresters

Media Release

19 November 2013

Farmers sign landmark agreement with foresters

Federated Farmers, together with the New Zealand Forest Owners Association the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association have today signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build the relationship between foresters and farmers.

“This is fundamentally about getting farmers and foresters to communicate,” says Anders Crofoot, Federated Farmers Forestry spokesperson,

“I’d like to pay a huge compliment to our Ruapehu provincial president, Lyn Neeson and the Forest Owners Association’s Sally Strang who have both been driving forces in getting this MoU together.

“Federated Farmers genuinely appreciates the support for the MoU shown by our colleagues from the Forest Owners Association and the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association.

“A guiding principal is that timely communication is the key to good neighbourly relations.

“Indeed the MoU covers six key areas being general communications; boundary fence issues; plant and animal pests; planting and replanting setbacks and agrichemical application.

“It is important to Federated Farmers and our members that they have contact details for who is responsible for a block of forestry and its precise location. The same applies in reverse.

“The MoU even considers relationships where a member, or even a forester, may adopt organic or similar land management practices. Since this precludes the use of commonly used agrichemicals, it is about bringing both parties together to reach common ground.

“Forest Managers and Federated Farmers recognise that fences are a jointly owned asset and agree that secure boundary fencing to contain stock is critical.

“The MoU extends to the control of pests on either party’s land in accordance with the local Regional Council Regional Pest Management Strategy and any National Pest Management Strategies.

“A key aspect of forestry is planting and replanting setbacks. While controlled by some district council rules there are circumstances where setbacks may be closer, like for erosion control.

“Outside of organic farms, another thing the MoU looks to resolve is the aerial application of agrichemicals, which is beneficial to both conventional farming and forestry.

“The MoU is about taking all reasonable and practical precautions to avoid overspray and where this does occur, reasonable steps to resolve and remedy any damage.

“Federated Farmers is extremely pleased to sign this MoU today with our forestry colleagues. While the MoU has no legal effect, the mutual expectations it creates represents strong common ground that we are will become industry norm,” Mr Crofoot concluded.

ENDS

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