Wednesday, 08 July 2020 10:06

N cap rules – an unbalanced approach

Written by  Jim van der Poel, DairyNZ chairman
Jim van der Poel. Jim van der Poel.

OPINION: The Essential Freshwater policy’s new nitrogen cap has a barb in the tail for dairy farmers and particularly those in Canterbury.

While the overall package announced last month was an improvement on the earlier version, it surprised many that the nitrogen cap of 190kg per hectare per year would be applied so quickly and only to pastoral farmers.

The cap begins in July 2021, and only dairy farmers must report fertiliser use to their regional council.

When it comes to achieving healthy waterways, we all have a role to play. Dairy farmers have been doing a lot of good work over the past decade and recognise that we are part of the solution. But rules must be applied equitably, not only between farmers, but also between rural and urban communities.

The cap for just pastoral farmers is not equitable and it’s out of step with the Government’s own Essential Freshwater principles. Dairy farmers have already done a lot of good work, but want to know that every farmer or grower applying nitrogen must adhere to the same rules, to achieve the same outcome.

Decisions on farm systems and what to plant are made many months in advance and the timelines for the new rules present significant upheaval.

There are real solutions to be found and DairyNZ is working hard to explore these. 

But good science to inform on-farm practice takes time.

Farmers are already innovative in reducing N losses and will continue to be. In Canterbury, farmers are investing thousands of dollars to upgrade irrigation systems. 

The precision irrigation technologies are very effective at reducing nitrogen leaching, while also improving water use efficiency. 

Over 10,000 nutrient budgets are in use on dairy farms to look at the farm’s soils, rainfall, crop and pasture, stock, supplementary feed and irrigation. These budgets inform accurate fertiliser application.

We look forward to working together with government to ensure these policies are translated into pragmatic and balanced rules for all farmers and to achieving our shared goals for healthy waterways.

• Jim van der Poel is DairyNZ chairman

More like this

From Sky Tower to cowshed

Every morning dairy farmer Sam Waugh sees the Auckland Sky Tower through his window. It's a great reminder of one of his key life goals - giving young people from towns and cities insights into farm life.

Celebrating dairy farmers this International Women's Day

Siobhan O’Malley is a dairy farmer, innovator, businesswoman and community volunteer, an example of the thousands of Kiwi dairy farming women throughout New Zealand who multi-task every day to contribute positively to their communities.

Unique dairy farms open their gates

A dairy farm working to increase endangered skink numbers and a boutique farm selling milk in recycled bottles will open their gates to the public this Sunday.

Featured

Sheep drench resistance costly

Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

National

Govt urged to reduce ETS units

The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as…

Dairy sheep, goat woes mount

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand…

Machinery & Products

All-terrain fert spreading mode

Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…

Can-Am showcases range

Based on industry data collected by the Motor Industry Association, Can-Am is the number one side-by-side manufacturer in New Zealand.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Papal visit

OPINION: European farmers are going to extreme lengths to have their message heard.

Thai egg tarts

OPINION: The hustle and bustle of one of Bangkok's most popular fast food outlets may feel a world away from…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter