Details released on next Tuesday’s Ruataniwha water event

29 October 2014

Details released on next Tuesday’s Ruataniwha water event

Federated Farmers and Irrigation NZ have released more details about the free “Ruataniwha – it’s Now or Never” event, taking place from 7pm next Tuesday (4 November), at the Waipawa/Central Hawke’s Bay Municipal Theatre.

“It is definitely not going to be a theoretical discussion about economic models, but real world examples of farmers and schemes with costs similar to what the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme proposes,” says Will Foley, Federated Farmers Hawke’s Bay.

“Instead of talking about an economic model, we’re bringing up farmers involved in the comparable cost North Otago Irrigation Company scheme and Mid-Canterbury’s BCI scheme.

“We’d like to thank FMG Rural Insurance and Westpac for their help in bringing up people like Peter Mitchell, an arable cropping farmer involved in the North Otago Irrigation Company scheme.

“His story provides a great example of what’s possible when you’ve got reliable water.

“Rab McDowell is, meanwhile, a traditional sheep and beef farmer who now chairs Mid-Canterbury’s BCI water scheme. He has used irrigated water to successfully diversify his farming operation into finishing, dairy support and even cropping.

“Both these two farmers provide great examples for how many Hawke’s Bay farmers may approach Ruataniwha, assuming of course, farmers give it the investment tick.

“It’s about adding irrigation to how you currently farm, instead of chucking it all in and moving to a completely new farm system. Especially with the bullish outlook for beef and lamb.

“Even with charges and pricing comparable to Ruataniwha, BCI saw a 30 percent increase in irrigated area last year and expects another 20 percent next year. Given the nutrient limits we’ll be facing, Rab added that his scheme looks after that for its shareholders.

“As these are comparable cost schemes to Ruataniwha, I am more than heartened to see farmers and communities not just getting by, but doing very well. That’s what we want here.

“Peter and Rab convince me we are right to say sheep and beef will benefit hugely from reliable water. Not only has it increased incomes but it helps to eliminate low periods too.

“Other speakers will include Hugh Ritchie about how he’ll make Ruataniwha water work for his cropping farm and Arthur Rowlands on why Ruataniwha water will work for his diversified traditional sheep, beef and cropping farm.

“To me the economic experts who matter are the farms and farmers who take irrigation water at costs comparable to what we’re looking at. There are also plenty of studies showing how good irrigation is, the most recent study was after all released in June on the North Otago Irrigation Company,” Mr Foley concluded.

“Ruataniwha – it’s Now or Never” is a free event for farmers considering the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme. It takes place next Tuesday (4 November), at the Waipawa/Central Hawke’s Bay Municipal Theatre from 7pm. The Waipawa/Central Hawke’s Bay Municipal Theatre is located in Kenilworth Street, Waipawa.

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