Dairy accord by decree the wrong move

National is backing the concerns of dairy farmers who say they weren't properly consulted on the signing of an environmental accord on dairying.

The Dairying and Clean Streams Accord has been agreed to today by the Ministry for the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and dairy co-op Fonterra.

"Farmers, more than anyone, know the important link between the sustainability of agriculture and environmental requirements," says National's Agriculture spokesman, David Carter.

"But laying down the law without adequately consulting with the rural sector will only result in anger from farmers and attempts to flout the rules.

"The only way to achieve an effective code of best practice is to have widespread consultation, not a decree. It's obvious dairy farmers feel they've been left out on this accord," says Mr Carter.

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