Perceptions, reality must align

The contributors are the primary industries, Environment Canterbury, AgResearch, Plant and Food Research and Landcare Research. 

The document is a key part of the Matrix of Good Management (MGM) project for Canterbury.

Federated Farmers’ environment spokesperson Ian Mackenzie, one of the MGM group, says public concern about water quality and environmental stewardship is prompting farmers to show they are getting land, plant and nutrient management right.

Central to this is “good management practice”, published in the MGM summary – “the first of its kind,” Mackenzie says. “This document goes beyond a list of practices good for water quality; it outlines good management practices that all farmers, regardless of sector, are expected to achieve.

“As a first step to get all farmers up to a high standard of environmental awareness, we needed to agree as a sector what good management practice looks like. We have to involve farmers in that process to help us define it in practical terms. 

“We are now well on the way to getting industry-wide agreement on what ‘good’ looks like in farming that protects water quality.”

Mackenzie says the practices published list the outcomes farmers anywhere in NZ could reasonably be expected to achieve.

“The summary arises from 18 months of discussions at farmer workshops and with individual farmers, rural professionals and industry representatives. We’ve tested this with different groups including leading farmers to make sure it’s practical and do-able. We want to get consistency in everyone’s approach to this topic.

“It’s tough for farmers if they keep getting mixed or confused messages from different bodies. 

“We hope this document will give farmers certainty on what they need to concentrate on to lift environmental performance. The public can also see the kind of responsible farming practices needed to protect water quality,” he says. 

Industry, government and community leaders have approved the practices. They include:

Locate and manage farm tracks, gateways, water troughs, self-feeding areas, stock camps, wallows and other sources of run-off to minimise risks to water quality.

Manage the amount and timing of fertiliser inputs, taking account of all sources of nutrients, to match plant requirements and minimise risk of losses.

 “The details on how exactly the good management practices will be used and reflected in council plans and policies are still being worked out with everyone. Their successful uptake will need to be underpinned by industry extension programmes for farmers and supported by farm environment plans,” Mackenzie says.