Key issues in the proposal that could affect dairy farming
There is a significant amount of information contained in the Action for Healthy Waterways consultation documents. The following are issues that are most relevant for dairy farming. More detail can be found
here. Below is a brief summary.
New bottom line for instream nitrogen and phosphorus. Government modelling suggests reductions in nitrogen losses of 25-80% would be required to meet the targets across many catchments.
Changes to the stock exclusion and set-back rules. New standards are proposed for the exclusion of cattle from wetlands, lakes and rivers more than one-metre wide have been proposed in the National Environmental Standard.
New “at-risk” standards for wintering and stand-off pads. The consultation is asking for feedback on proposed standards and rules for options to manage intensive wintering grazing on forage crops, as well as proposals on how to manage the use
of feedlots, sacrificial paddocks and the use of land on stock holding areas (e.g. stand-off pads).
Requirement for a Farm Environment Plan (FEP). The Government is proposing that all farms need to have an active FEP module in their farm plan by 2025, or by 2021 if located within a catchment identified as Schedule 1. Two options are presented;
mandatory or voluntary.
A nitrogen cap in Schedule 1 catchments. The proposed National Environmental Standard proposes to take immediate action to reduce nitrogen loss from Schedule 1 catchments.
Schedule 1 catchments:
Taharua River – Hawke’s Bay
Waipao Stream – Northland
Mataura River – Southland
Oreti River – Southland
Waimatuku Stream – Southland
Aparima River – Southland
Waihopai River – Southland
Waingongoro River – Taranaki
Motupipi River – Tasman Region
Piako River – Waikato Region
Waihou River – Waikato Region
Parkvale Stream – Wellington
Upper Rangitaiki and Otangimoana Rivers (upstream of their confluence only) – Bay of Plenty
For more detail on the key issues in the proposal
click here.
DairyNZ will continue to keep you updated and will keep you briefed with a weekly email. Please be assured we will be sharing our technical views on the above proposals with you and the Government. Keep talking to us – we know this is tough and we’ll do our
best to keep you informed.
Kind regards
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