| 65 Helping industry meets its obligations The average age of drivers in the logging industry is fifty-five. That means in the next ten years there are going to be a lot of people retiring from the industry and if we don’t do something soon, the shortage of qualified drivers will obviously get worse.” Mathew feels there needs to be an overhaul of New Zealand’s licensing structure, to make it more relevant for the 21st century and more aligned with the needs of the industry. “Part of that includes driver education and licencing as part of the school curriculum so that young people could at least leave Primary producers are set to benefit from a timely review of the Spreadmark Code of Practice, currently underway and firmly focussed on achieving best agronomic and environmental outcomes for farmers. The Spreadmark scheme is a fertiliser placement quality assurance programme that was first established in 1994. Today’s operating climate is very different to what it was then, with farm and freshwater environment planning now much more of an imperative. In line with the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPSFM 2020), for example, regional freshwater plans need to be notified by December 2024. Coming at just the right time for the farm sector is the review of the Spreadmark Code of Practice by Groundspread NZ and the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA), in conjunction with the Fertiliser Quality Council (FQC). The aim is to deliver a fit for purpose, updated code by the end of May, ready for implementation. “The revised code reflects a fundamental shift to create what the industry needs: a fully audited credible, quality national assurance standard on nutrient placement, ensuring it’s ‘the right product, right time, right place and right rate’,” says Groundspead NZ President Graeme Martin. “For us, having an approved quality standard is all about helping primary industry to meet its obligations. If farmers use a Spreadmark operator, then they know what’s going on, where and how.” In coming months, regional councils around the country will be revising their regional policy statements and regional plans to give effect to the NPSFM 2020 by the end of 2024 deadline. Otago Regional Council (ORC) is already embarking on a full review of their operative Regional Plan: Water for Otago and developing a new Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP), which they aim to notify by 31 December 2023. “Otago is the first cab off the rank, so we’d imagine most regional councils will be watching their review and planning change process very RURAL SERVICES » Sheldrake Haulage & NZGS Spreadmark • from page 64 closely as it will likely set the framework that other councils will follow,” says NZAAA Executive Officer Tony Michelle. “They will be looking for assurance from applicators – whether groundbased or from the air – that we can meet their expectations and rules within their plans.” This is precisely what the revised Spreadmark Code of Practice is seeking to achieve. “We do see great benefit in having best practice school licenced to drive a car. A lot of kids leave school each year who don’t even have a learner licence. Our industry could also do more to get young people into driving and get the ball rolling at school, rather than waiting until they are eighteen or nineteen when we have lost them to other industries. The work ethic of younger people has also changed. We do long working days, starting early in the morning and that deters a lot of young people from entering the industry. Younger people probably are not going to change, so as an industry we are starting to change to accommodate that and make the industry more attractive.” PROUDLY SUPPORTING SHELDRAKE HAULAGE Ph: 07 957 0188 Email: info@initiom.co.nz www.initiom.co.nz • • Every great business runs on timely information and great relationships Kim Newth programmes that will give regional councils that assurance. From our perspective, we want to be able to come to the table and be a part of the solution, not part of the problem.” In March, the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand also launched their revised and updated Code of Practice for fertiliser nutrient management to provide clear principle-based guidance on supplying nutrients for growing healthy food and fibre. “It is an integral part of the Fertiliser Quality Council,” observes Graeme. “It’s tying it all together for a good quality standard for New Zealand primary industry with Fertmark and Spreadmark.” Set up by farmers for farmers in 1992, the FQC is responsible for both Fertmark and Spreadmark.
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