10 | News gone down like a wet blanket Russell Fredric ENVIRONMENT » Robert and Cate Willis Southland dairy farmer Robert Willis sees himself and others facing considerably more than a winter of discontent over the Government’s recent recommitment to the Paris Agreement. Climate Change minister Simon Watts announced the Government’s new nationally determined contribution (NDC2) goal late January, to reduce emissions by 51 to 55 percent below 2005 levels by 2035. This increased target follows on from NDC1 for the period 2021-2030 which aimed for a 50% reduction in net emissions below gross 2005 levels by 2030. For farmers like Robert and lobby groups such as Groundswell and Methane Science Accord, the news has gone down like a wet blanket. Robert and his wife Cate own a 112 hectare dairy unit at Gummies Bush, Southland, run by 50/50 sharemilkers Gregor and Lynne Ramsay. It winters 330 cows and grazes 90 calves and 90 yearlings on a support block run by Robert under contract to the Ramsay’s, along with the Willis’ also grazing 60 beef cattle. Robert foresees a bleak financial future under New Zealand’s recommitment to the Paris Agreement and the revised targets. “When I looked at what it will cost me through enforcement coming from the councils and the Government to allow me to farm, as a dairy farming operation it could become unviable.” He highlights that many of the world’s largest emitters – such as China, India and Russia – are ignoring the Paris Agreement. President Trump also signed an executive order late January to withdraw the United States from the agreement and Robert would like to see New Zealand do the same. “We don’t need to participate in this global ideology about the influences of carbon and methane on the temperature for the survival of the human race, and we now seem to be in a place in the world now where I can’t have that opinion,” Robert says. “Because our government has committed us to certain things and these things have no impact on the final outcome of what the [climate] claims are and more money will just go out of our pockets nationally and internationally, and we’ll be no better off. Climate warming claims made by organisations driving global climate policy are grossly overstated, while there has not been enough account taken of on-farm sequestration of carbon, nor of the efficiency of New Zealand farmers, Robert says. He is concerned an emissions tax will not only suffocate farmers’ budgets, but also stifle their ability to invest in environmental and other farm improvements. Robert and Cate have invested considerably in environmental improvements on their farm and in 2020 were recognised in multiple Ballance Farm Environment Awards. “The impact on profitability and the survival of the farm is going to be impacted severely no matter what way they take it if they stay in the Paris Agreement and follow the route “that we are all going to die if we don’t do these things”, which is not true.” “Are we going to have meet these targets by expelling more farmers or [reducing] stock numbers and look at different alternatives; are we going to penalise farmers to shrink down the cows numbers; are we going to make it that much more painful that only the big survive and the small ones fall off. “The contentiousness with the current Government is that they haven’t made a stand on any changes to the status quo; they’re not talking about changing.” “New Zealand has always been uniquely placed and uniquely sought after and that can still be our advantage.” Proudly supporting Robert and CateWillis p: 03 218 6179 e: Greg.Munro@mcp.co.nz w: www.mcp.co.nz At McCulloch + Partners we are a local business run by local people. We pride ourselves on being friendly, accessible and experienced accounting specialists no matter the industry you’re in. Robert: 027 439 5096 Email: rivertonfarmdrainage@xtra.co.nz RURAL TRANSPORT Robert and Cate have invested considerably in environmental improvements on their farm. Robert is concerned an emissions tax will not only suffocate farmers’ budgets, but also stifle their ability to invest in environmental and other farm improvements.
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