Fit-for-purpose system for freshwater farm plans needed

While backing the Government’s decision to pause the freshwater farm plan rollout, HortNZ wants current programmes added into the freshwater farm plan system.

“We believe that the optimal approach to making progress on regulatory issues is to establish a pathway to enable growers to use industry assurance programmes like New Zealand Good Agricultural Practice (NZGAP) and GLOBALG.A.P. to meet market and regulatory requirements via one integrated farm plan,” says Sands.

“We are encouraged to hear that the Government is wanting to integrate existing industry assurance programmes into the Freshwater Farm Plan System. We want to see recognition of programmes like the NZGAP Environment Management System, which is trusted, robust and meets the desired policy outcomes.

“It would fit with the Government’s goals and enable growers to find the right solutions for their farms and catchments.”

Last month, the Government announced it was pausing the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised.

Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard says that improving the freshwater farm plan system to make it more cost-effective and practical for farmers is a priority for this Government.

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“Freshwater farm plans support farmers in managing freshwater risks, but the current system is too costly and not fit-for-purpose.

“We have heard the concerns of the sector and Cabinet has agreed to pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans while potential changes are considered. Minor amendments to the Resource Management Act (RMA) will enable the pause.

“Once these amendments are made, farmers will not be required to submit a freshwater farm plan for certification while changes to the freshwater farm plan system are underway.

“We want freshwater farm plans to acknowledge the good work many farmers are already doing. The key thing for farmers is to make a start and keep up their efforts – their work will not be wasted,” Hoggard says.

The Government will work with the sector, iwi, and regional councils to simplify requirements and enable more local catchment-level solutions.

HortNZ is also calling for commercial vegetable production (CVP) to become a permitted activity for growers with a Freshwater Farm Plan (FWFP).

Sands points out that over 80% of NZ-grown vegetables are grown for the domestic market.

“New Zealand’s growers are committed to operating to good management practices and the industry is committed to supporting them.

“That includes through product group research like the Sustainable Vegetable Systems programme and the HortNZ/Ministry for the Environment Growing Change project, which is supporting growers to develop their FWFP through a catchment-led approach.

“We encourage growers to maintain their ongoing efforts in environmental management via GAP and the EMS, supported by Growing Change, and to continue their sustainability journey despite the policy uncertainty.

“HortNZ wants a nationally consistent approach to planning rules to provide certainty for commercial vegetable production in New Zealand,” says Sands.

Regional councils have been unable to develop workable rules for vegetable production. Some regions constrain crop rotation, constrain nutrient supply to a level which reduces the amount of vegetables that can be produced and constrain expansion so growers cannot grow more vegetables to feed our growing population.

Regional councils are not well-placed to balance national benefit with local effects, she says.

“The risk is regions make unworkable rules for commercial vegetable production, without taking into account the national importance of vegetable production in securing a resilient supply of healthy fresh food for New Zealanders.”