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Restrictions on new dairy conversions and irrigation are coming as the Government grapples with improving waterways around the country.
All farmers will be required to have a farm plan by 2025 to manage risks to freshwater on their properties.
The proposals were outlined in a draft National Policy Statement and National Environment Standards: Freshwater paper released last week by Environment Minister David Parker and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.
Public submissions will be accepted on the proposals until October. The Government will decide finally on the national policy statement by early next year.
“From June 2020, changes such as new irrigation or conversion to dairying will only happen where there is evidence it will not increase pollution,” the discussion document says.
Among other proposals, catchments with high nitrate/nitrogen levels will be required to reduce nitrogen loss within five years.
The Government also wants farmers to do more to exclude stock from waterways. It proposes more fencing and wider setbacks to keep stock out of waterways, reduce erosion and capture contaminants before they reach water.
Standards will also be introduced for intensive winter grazing, feedlots and stock holding areas to reduce erosion and pollution of waterways by nutrients, sediment and pathogens.
The document talks about extra costs facing farmers- $600 million over 10 years for extra fencing and $3,500 for each farm plan. The Government has allocated $229m funding in the Budget for farmers.
Some farmer organisations are welcoming the proposals.
Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman says every NZer wants clean lakes, rivers and streams. And fruit and vegetable growers are no exception, he says.
IrrigationNZ says it is pleased to see the Government’s freshwater proposals do not pin blame for waterway degradation solely on the primary sector.
But sheep and beef farmers have significant concerns.
Beef + Lamb NZ (BLNZ) says plans to lock down current land uses will disproportionately affect the majority of sheep and beef farms which are low input, extensive systems with a light touch on the environment.
Opuha Dam's ability to protect South Canterbury communities from major flooding has taken a significant step forward, with Opuha Water Limited (OWL) successfully commissioning a new outlet valve capable of releasing record volumes of water from the dam ahead of a weather event.
Increased competition for water means the whole community is looking at how irrigators use water.
Matt McRae, a farmer from Mokoreta in Southland who runs a sheep, beef and dairy support business alongside a sheep stud, has been elected to the Beef +Lamb NZ Board as a farmer director.
Moves are afoot to get a team of Australians over here to help repair North Canterbury's irrigation machinery, ravaged by the big windstorm of late October.
Recent widespread autumn rain will have triggered the germination of subterranean clover seeds, and the resulting seedlings should be allowed to reach the 3–4 trifoliate leaf stage before grazing, says Beef+Lamb NZ.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
Ravensdown shareholders have elected Jane Montgomery and Kate Acland to the Ravensdown Board for three-year terms, following a closely contested director election.
Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.
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