1. Question No. 1—AgricultureTEANAU TUIONO (Green) to the Minister of AgricultureORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Agriculture1. TEANAU TUIONO (Green) to the Minister of Agriculture: Has he seen the call in the Climate Shift plan released last week to Transition intensive dairying to low emissions farming by phasing out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser and imported animal feed reducing herd size and banning new large-scale irrigation schemes"; if so does he support it?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Agriculture): To the first part of the question yes I have seen the Climate Shift 10-point plan released last week. To the second part of the question the Government is already committed to supporting our primary producers to reduce their emissions and lift sustainability credentials on farms. That's why we've invested more than a billion dollars over consecutive Budgets to develop emissions reduction tools for farmers to fund over 200 catchment groups to restore water quality within a generation and to research innovative on-farm practices to improve environmental outcomes.Teanau Tuiono: Does he agree with Rod Oram who in a recent article said "The call is to cut agricultural emissions in ways that improve farms and the ecosystems on which they utterly depend. For example reducing stocking intensity diversifying crops increasing soil carbon and rebuilding biodiversity will make them more sustainable."?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: I don't agree with everything that Ron Oram says but a lot of that article I do agree with. Yes we do have to work with our farming sectors to develop the techniques—the technology—to reduce emissions from our agricultural systems. That doesn't necessarily mean cutting stock numbers or cutting production. We think we can do both—that is increase the profitability the production and reduce emissions.Teanau Tuiono: Does he agree that overuse of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser is leading to water pollution and if so will he consider stronger measures on fertiliser?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: The Government introduced a cap on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser of 190 kilograms per hectare. The sector seems to have addressed the challenges of that. We've seen a lift in gross export earnings from our productive sectors including the farmers at the same they have cut back on their use of nitrogen. I don't believe that we should cut it out completely as that report suggests.Teanau Tuiono: What support if any will he provide to organic farmers to maximise the benefits of the organic products Act changes?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: This Government facilitated the passage of the Organic Products and Production Bill which ensures there's consistency and accreditation for organics production in our country. That will boost certainty and confidence in the organic sector. There is I understand a challenge at the moment with their lead organisation facing some financial challenges. We're happy to sit down and talk with them. In the end though the industry has to be able to grow up and to fund itself into a sustainable future.Teanau Tuiono: Does he agree that farming in Aotearoa cannot possibly be sustainable as long as it relies on imported PKE feed that can lead to deforestation overseas and further undermine climate progress and if so what will he do about it?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: The use of PKE—palm kernel expeller—is a very small part of the total feed budget in our country. It was originally introduced off the back of a drought and so there will be from time to time the need for supplementary feeds like PKE. The overdependence on that is something that Fonterra sought to intervene on and that is limiting the amount of PKE that can be fed to a cow per day. So I think over time we'll see a reduction in the reliance on that and a move back towards more sustainable systems on farm. I think that's good for us all."