Early Bird I Thursday April 17th 2025

Dairy prices climb despite Trump tariff concerns, the Government cuts back freshwater farm plan requirements, and more than 60 jobs could go at Mount Maunganui fertiliser plant.

Welcome to Proud Country's Early Bird - The top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand delivered to you by 5am, because who doesn’t need better chat beyond the weather!

 

Dairy prices climb despite Trump tariff concerns

The latest Global Dairy Trade auction has delivered welcome news for dairy farmers with prices lifting 1.6% despite concerns over recently introduced US tariffs..

Whole milk powder, which has the biggest impact on farmer payouts, rose by 2.8% anhydrous milk fat was up 2.1% and butter increased 1.5%.

Particularly notable was the substantial 22% jump in lactose prices, while mozzarella saw a healthy 5.4% increase, skim milk powder dropped 2.3% and cheddar eased back 1.8%.

The positive result provides some reassurance to dairy farmers who had expressed concern about potential market disruption following President Trump's recent introduction of tariffs. Industry analysts are now watching closely to see if this upward momentum continues at the next scheduled trading event.

 

The Government cuts back freshwater farm plan requirements

The Government is moving to make freshwater farm plans more practical and affordable by cutting unnecessary red tape and taking a risk-based approach. Cabinet has agreed to reduce the number of farms requiring plans while still managing environmental impacts, with small blocks to be exempt from the requirements entirely.

Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard says the Government is delivering on its Q1 Action Plan commitment to improve the system. Officials are currently working with industry groups, sector representatives and councils to finalise the improvements through updated regulations after the Government paused the rollout last year.

The new system will recognise existing industry programmes that achieve equivalent environmental outcomes and in some cases act as an alternative to local council rules and consents, allowing landowners to meet requirements in ways that suit their individual farm systems.

The changes reflect a shift from a precautionary to a more permissive, risk-based approach, ensuring landowners can use their property more freely while still protecting the environment. Hoggard describes farm plans as useful tools that must be practical and matched to actual environmental risk.

The improvements are being progressed through the Government's RMA reform process with the changes expected to be in place by the end of the year as part of a broader effort to reduce costs and unlock productivity across the primary sector.

 

Farm children four times more likely to contract water bacteria

New research reveals rural New Zealanders on private water supplies face twice the risk of contracting campylobacteriosis compared to urban residents on treated water systems. The University of Otago study found over 53,500 Kiwis currently live in the highest-risk areas with inadequate water safety protection.

Children under five in rural areas are four times more likely to contract the bacterial infection than their urban counterparts. Researchers identified Waikato, Taranaki, Canterbury and Southland as regions with greatest risk due to their combination of private water supplies and high-density dairy farming. Private supplies like wells, boreholes and rainwater tanks used by approximately 15 percent of New Zealanders lack the regulatory oversight and regular testing that public water systems receive.

Lead researcher Dr Farnaz Pourzand is calling on the Government to extend drinking water protection to everyone by expanding national standards to include all priv