Displaying items by tag: water

Dairy farmers say over-stringent freshwater policies will cost New Zealand at least $80 billion in the next 30 years, but will not greatly improve water quality.

The Government’s proposed water reforms have been blasted by a regional council with top performing water quality.

A Christchurch company has won a major technology contest with a satellite-based remote sensing solution that could monitor the water quality of every lake globally.

Cultivation of paddocks is common on farms at this time of year. It’s also a time when local storms may occur, adding substantial risk to an important farming practice.

Disregarding the social and economic effects of the proposed water reforms is a recipe for disaster, warns Federated Farmers Waikato president Andrew McGiven.

A national limit on dissolved nitrogen would “essentially eliminate” intensive agriculture in the Selwyn Waihora catchment, says Environment Canterbury chief scientist Dr Tim Davie.

Fonterra wants the Government to remove suggested maximum required levels of nitrogen and phosphorous in streams.

With the submissions period for proposed water reforms ending last week, the National Party was out and about in the Waikato dairy heartland putting its spin on things.

Farmers are not the only ones to be lumped with the heavy costs of the Government’s proposed new recommendations for freshwater.

The Government will take the next few months to go over 12,000 submissions and work on the proposed Essential Freshwater package.