Taranaki farmers face uncertain outlook despite grass growth after drought
The grass may be growing again in the drought-stricken coastal area of Taranaki, but the outlook for many farmers there is far from rosy.
Industry leaders were on hand to endorse and promote the Taranaki Regional Council's Riparian Management Scheme, under which 430,000 plants are being distributed this week – a significant increase on last year's 350,000 as implementation is ramped up.
The scheme is one the nation's largest water and soil conservation projects and participants who were early with their plant orders went into the draw for $10,000 worth of prizes sponsored by Fonterra, Revital Fertilisers and Spray It.
"More and more farmers now recognise riparian fencing and planting as part of their day-to-day business. We've made good progress so far but it's vital that the momentum keeps building," says the council chairman, David MacLeod.
The Council has prepared almost 2,400 individual riparian management plans, covering 96% of the region's dairy farms and approximately 12,500 km of streambank. In total, 7,358 km (72%) of streambank is protected by fencing and 4,517 km (58%) is protected by planting and vegetation.
MacLeod says the programme is transforming Taranaki and Fonterra has long supported it as a major sponsor of the prize draw.
"Now they are telling suppliers that stock must be excluded from waterways, so the message is loud and clear: Now is the time to be getting the fencing and planting completed," he says.
"The council's regional fresh water plan is up for review and we will be looking long and hard at whether regulation is needed around riparian protection. If farmers don't demonstrate leadership and get their riparian fencing and planting completed in the next few years, they may well find themselves being led."
Research in New Zealand and overseas has confirmed that riparian management is an effective means of protecting freshwater quality. Fences prevent stock from fouling waterways and vegetation filters run-off, reduces nutrients entering waterways, provides shade, lowers water temperatures and enhances biodiversity.
