Thursday, 06 July 2023 07:55

Freshwater plans coming ready or not

Written by  Peter Burke
Farmers and growers will need a freshwater farm plan if they have 20 hectares or more in arable or pastoral use and five hectares or more in horticultural use. Farmers and growers will need a freshwater farm plan if they have 20 hectares or more in arable or pastoral use and five hectares or more in horticultural use.

Freshwater farm plans to help farmers improve local waterways will be progressively phased in across the country.

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor and Environment Minister David Parker say Cabinet has confirmed the freshwater farm plan regulations, which are part of the Government's Essential Freshwater package, to improve freshwater health and management.

O'Connor says freshwater farm plans will be phased in region by region over the coming years to ensure they are practical, starting in parts of the Waikato and Southland on August 1. The rollout period for the remaining regions will be outlined before the end of this year.

O'Connor claims this provides farmers certainty and they will have 18 months to prepare their first plan after the regulations take effect in their region. He says the freshwater farm plans will allow for flexibility and variability within farming systems, rather than a one size fits all approach.

"The Government has listened to and acted on the concerns of the sector around how to make a system workable on the ground and roll it out in a way that gives farmers time to make the necessary preparations."

He says demonstrating our sustainability credentials is critical for future export growth and this is a key part of that story.

Over time farmers and growers will need a freshwater farm plan if they have 20 hectares or more in arable or pastoral or combined use, or five hectares in horticultural use. Parker says industry groups such as Fonterra and Beef + Lamb New Zealand, along with regional councils, have led the way in encouraging the development of freshwater farm plans. He says the freshwater farm plan regulations are another step in the progression towards widespread adoption of these plans that will, over time, lift the quality of our rural waterways.

"The Government is investing $22.5 million from the Essential Freshwater fund to help farmers, growers and advisors develop the plans," he says.

More like this

Dead in the water

OPINION: In a victory for common sense over virtue signalling, David Parker's National Policy Statement (NPS) work on freshwater is now dead in the water.

Clarity needed

OPINION: This month, the government announced a pause to the rollout of the national farm plan system.

Featured

HRT patches decision needs reconsideration - RWNZ

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says Pharmac needs to reconsider its decision to fund only one brand of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) patches used by women going through perimenopause and menopause.

B+LNZ refutes UK animal welfare criticism

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) says recent criticism from the UK’s Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding New Zealand’s animal welfare standards are unfounded.

Honey industry group set to merge

A big shakeup in the honey sector is about to take place with the news that the industry good body, ApiNZ, and the export focused Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association are looking to merge to form a new industry body.

Relief for farmers on floating interest rate

ANZ says the latest cut to its floating rates will be welcome news to many of its business and agri customers still feeling the effects of high inflation and interest rates.

National

Winter grazing warning

Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.

Machinery & Products

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo…

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…

Bank reset

OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter