Editorial: Roll on 2021!
OPINION: There is no doubt that 2020 has been a challenging year for New Zealand and the world.
This results from increasing demands on farmers to meet environmental standards and regional regulatory requirements in different parts of New Zealand, the company says.
The adoption of stricter nutrient management regulations is being led by Horizons Regional Council and councils in Otago and Canterbury are also nearing completion of recent plan changes. Hawkes Bay is this month holding hearings associated with proposed changes in the Tukituki catchment plan.
Ravensdown’s environmental consultants will use their farm systems expertise and the nutrient modeling tool Overseer, combined with insight into farmers’ goals, access to soil test data and fertiliser plans, to analyse scenarios and develop effective strategies for each property.
“Our core strength is nutrient management and this is valuable expertise for any farmer facing compliance issues with their regional councils, wanting to improve their environmental performance or considering a resource consent,” says Greg Campbell, Ravensdown chief executive.
Manawatu, Otago and Canterbury are where farmers are facing the greatest pressure to meet tougher environmental standards.
“Ravensdown has been advocating on farmers’ behalf as the new regulations in these areas have evolved. We also helped develop the Overseer nutrient modeling tool. We often work with farmers on their soil testing or fertiliser proof-of-placement maps, so their data is there if it needs to be included in their plan. These three factors make the new consultancy an ideal fit for Ravensdown and its shareholders,” Campbell says.
Charges for the new user-pays Optimiser service will be based on the type of plan required and the complexity and detail needed. Farm scenario plans will contain analysis of various options for individual farm systems and farm environmental plans will present a full farm environmental risk assessment with mitigation strategies.
“Our team has the practical insight into farm systems and a working knowledge of each region’s evolving regulatory framework,” says Kelly Morris, business manager Ravensdown Environmental. “Combined with their experience with the Overseer nutrient modeling software, this will deliver real value to farmers.”
The Optimiser service can include interacting with the relevant agency, for example during a consent process, freeing farmers from the typical back-and-forth negotiations and requests for information that can occur, the co-op says.
