Farmers' ability and right to farm could be under threat by bureaucrats with no practical understanding of the industry, says Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers president Rick Powdrell.

'With the ever increasing scrutiny of many of our farming practices, the risk of further regulations and their subsequent compliance costs is an area that will require close monitoring,” he told yesterday's provincial annual general meeting at Edgecumbe.

Rick Powdrell, newly elected member of Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers.

'The people tasked with scrutinising what we do often have no farming practical experience – so it is vital we are actively involved in this area or our right to, and ability to farm in the future will be under threat.”

Rick has replaced John Scrimgeour in the role of president and John has agreed to take on the vice-president's role for the next 12 months.

John told the meeting the branch had acted on farmers' behalf over a number of issues in the last 12 months, including the move by Transpower to have significantly larger buffer zones around their transmission lines than is currently the case; challenging Whakatane District Council over the way it proposed to strike rates; and Western Bay of Plenty District Council over its representative review.

In the buffer zone issue, the commissioner who heard the case came forward with a decision which virtually endorsed the federation's position. 'While this decision is currently under appeal from Transpower, I am optimistic that we will reach a satisfactory conclusion,” John said.

In Whakatane, the outcome was not totally favourable but was an improvement for farmers on what had been proposed; and the branch had managed to have the number of Western Bay councillors increased from the proposed eight to 11.

Rick says the branch has generally positive relationships with regional and local councils and is increasingly involved early in the planning stages for new rules and regulations. 'It is a real positive as this means at times we are able to support councils' proposals because any issues have been ironed out in advance.”

Bringing in new blood to the Bay of Plenty branch of Federated Farmers will be high on Rick's list of priorities for the next 12 months, especially as the candidate proposed to take the vice-president's role was unable to do so because of personal circumstances and John agreed to step in.

The branch will be actively encouraging members, especially younger ones, to take on leadership roles on subcommittees and branches.

'A good starting point for any farmers with an interest in leadership is to stand for up-coming school board of trustee elections. It's a great way to learn about governance and leadership. Federated Farmers has a number of leadership training courses too and many of its current leaders have also done a Kellogg's Rural Leadership Course.”

Leadership roles in Federated Farmers not only helps with personal development but the networking and knowledge gained is also invaluable to the farmer's own business, he says.

Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty has more than 500 members in a region which extends from Katikati in the north to Galatea inland and Opotiki in the east. The province encompasses one regional council, one city council and three district councils. There are five active branches: Tauranga/Katikati, Te Puke, Manawahe, Whakatane/Galatea and Opotiki.

Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty aims to lead on local issues that could affect farming economically and in terms of sustainability. To find out more go to: www.fedfarm.org.nz/‎