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Thursday, May 31, 2012

Council reports

Councillors are asked to write reports of the activities they are involved in, to be published in the agenda for Ordinary Meetings of Council. My guess is, the public rarely find one of those in their hands, so I'll publish my two reports for this coming Wednesday's meeting here, on the off chance that they might interest someone :-)


Tour of Southland's Wintering barns

All but a couple of Councillors clambered aboard the two mini-vans and set out for the first of four 'wintering facilities' at locations around Southland. (Those in the pink van ducked whenever they passed on-coming traffic.)
The wood-chip pad on display at the first stop looked an simple and effective solution to pugged paddocks, and offered comfort to the cows, a good sop for their effluent and a low-cost solution to a difficult problem. I liked it. The second destination featured a 'Herd Home', concrete-slatted floors that allowed the prosaic through-traffic of effluent and a curved plastic roof for protection from the rain, hail and sleet. Our third stop was, in my opinion and seemingly that of the other Councillors, inspirational and the source of more than a couple of epiphanies. The Swiss farmer had balanced his farming and family needs to perfection, resisting the demands from his industry to intensify and increase cow numbers and holding to the belief that simpler is better. His hay-feeding regime, pasture management and animal health programmes interested us all and we were well pleased to have called in to see his farm and wintering 'barn'. Lastly, we went to the other end of the spectrum with a visit to the 195-metre concrete and steel mega-barn, that featured padded stalls for the cows (Ali and Marion showed particular interest in these) and a hypnotically-fascinating effluent system that squeezed the water from the muck and produced a fluffy green product that had, to my mind, potential in fields well beyond the farm. The 'barn-manager' amused us all by declaring Councillor Miller a 'greeny' as we boarded our vans for the journey home and that was the cherry (green) on top of the cake that was a very useful day for all involved. Thanks to the organisers and drivers, and to the contributing farmers. Plus the weather gods.



 This one is for the Young Enterprise Awards I judged last night.

 On Thursday 30th May I attended the Mid-Year Awards Ceremony for the Young Enterprise Scheme at Elmwood gardens where I judged the 'Environment' section and awarded the Environment Southland trophy for the enterprise that best addressed the issues of environmental 'footprint' in the design and marketing of their product or service. It was a very enjoyable evening. My p.a. and I met and spoke with all of the enterprising young business wannabes. Selecting a winner wasn't difficult and the leader of the team from Girls' High deserved to carry away the very substantial E.S. Trophy, though she was barely able to do so, such was it's weight! I did note that in general, the 'environmental' aspect of the various business projects the young people had devised, was quite poorly realised and wonder if perhaps next year, ES might ask to have some input into the mentoring of the students early on, rather than just at the end, where it's too late to have much influence.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the phrase "resisting the demands from his industry to intensify and increase cow numbers and holding to the belief that simpler is better". Who is it making such demands...? Does it originate at the consumer? Ergo the consumer wants more cows?

robertguyton said...

Who are the 'consumers' you cite, Anonymous?
The Chinese?
Industry; Fonterra especially, as you know, Anonymous, has an aggressive programme of expansion. Are you pretending they don't?

Anonymous said...

I can't name every consumer sorry. The blog is not big enough for about 7 billion names. Incidentally forecast to increase 1 billion every 15 year.
Aggressive is a relative term. Do you care to quantify that?

robertguyton said...

Ah, but I didn't ask you to name them, oh tricky-Anon. An answer like, 'The Americans', 'local consumers' or, and I sense you drerad saying this, 'the Chinese', would have been straight enough.
Fonterra themselves have used the term 'aggressive' to describe their intentions with dairying in Southland, so far as I can recall. If not, then it's been apparent to me that they approached the expansion of dairying down here in an aggressive way. You'd hardly describe their approach as 'casual', carefree' or 'indifferent', would you?

Anonymous said...

I am sorry. I really don't know what you are talking about. Have they stirred the milk aggressively?

robertguyton said...

That's it. They've agitated the product beyond it's recognised limits.
No, Anon. They've taken a vigorous business model approach to their activities down here. As you would, if you were bound to return a profit to your shareholders.

Anonymous said...

And has that business model got aggressive activities? If so what are they? I am trying to find out what activities of Fonterra made the farmer feel pressured.

Towack said...

Hey anon - it doesnt matter what happens in life, according to the greens you can only blame three things, the Americans, the Chinese or any succesful business

robertguyton said...

Towack - you forgot 'National'.
I'd throw in 'fundies' as well.

Towack said...

Blame the fundies? Why would Sue Bradford be at fault?

robertguyton said...

Sue's to blame for everything, Towack. You know that in your heart of hearts.

Anonymous said...

No answer to my question Robert. Do I take it that.... Nah arrogant assumptions are not my style.
Towack. Politics are not my strong point. I won't enter that debate.

robertguyton said...

Sorry, Anonymous, I got distracted by other questions. Where were we...
Oh yes,
"And has that business model got aggressive activities?"

Yes
.
"If so what are they? I am trying to find out what activities of Fonterra made the farmer feel pressured."

Keep going, Anon. You'll soon know what I mean. Ask any farmer if the cooperative they are supplying has expansive or contractive plans. Ask them if those plans are casual or structured. Ask them if there are incentives or disincentives to increasing production. That might get you along the road of discovery.

Anonymous said...

Wow. This is fascinating I didn't know Fonterra was up to any of this. You seem to know a bit about it and could save me talking to farmers. I don't know many so a ring around might seem rude. Plus you have made the claim. It is not fair I chase others for this information.
If they are expanding is it to meet supply expectations or to pressure supply?
These plans? What are they? That will help me to understand the issue between casual and structured?
Incentives to increasing production. I thought they had a one price fits all policy. What is this incentive?

robertguyton said...

Anon - if you really want to know what's going on with Fonterra in Southland, listen to RadioLive, just after 7:00 am this Saturday morning, when I'm going to lift the lid on Fonterra's activities down here and blow the whole dairy deal wide open.

Anonymous said...

Ummm. Prime time 7am saturday morning. Sounds like a big scoop.

Anonymous said...

I ask you to qualify your claims. You deliver lies and deception. Sounds like good councillor behaviour.

Carlos N. said...

Robert, this goose is trying to entice you into saying things about Fonterra that he can use against you somehow. Treat him like the sneak he is.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps I am a Goose, Carlos N. I should know better than to give people in power the benefit of doubt. I will know better in the future.
Sneak? Robert made claims. I am trying to understand those claims. I would hardly say there is anything sneaky about that.

Anonymous said...

Robert,
Your Environment Southland "Code of Conduct and Statutory Requirements of Councillor Roles" states:
"Level Four
3. Relationships with the Public

When dealing with the members of public, members must:
E be honest, fair and equitable
F behave in a courteous and sensitive manner and not discriminate against and person
G avoid promising things the member cannot deliver
etc "

By leading me to listen to the radio at 7.00am on Saturday morning and not delivering the information you said you would have you been working within your Code of Conduct?
In addition to that, in my opinion you have not properly qualified your claims against Fonterra. Is this fair treatment of Fonterra?