Changes to intensive winter grazing regulations better for farmers and environment

• Published date: 11 May 2022
• Publication title: West Coast Farming Times, The

"For New Zealand, our economy depends on our environment

Cleaning up our winter grazing practices protects our freshwater resources, the welfare of our animals, and our exporting credentials," Mr O'Connor said.

"The Government has listened to feedback from farmers, industry representatives, iwi and hapu, environmental groups and regional councils, and has improved the rules to ensure they work better to achieve environmental outcomes." David Parker said new intensive winter grazing regulations were part of the Essential Freshwater package, which required farmers to improve on-farm practices.

"This package introduced rules for stock exclusion, stockholding, nitrogen fertiliser, rivers and wetlands, as well as other regulations designed to protect freshwater and control high-risk practices," Mr Parker said.

"The changes were consulted on last year and will take effect from 1 November 2022, in time for farmers to plan for the 2023 winter grazing period," Mr O'Connor said.

"The amendments will require grazed annual forage crop paddocks to be re-sown as soon as conditions allow, instead of by a set date.

"Specific requirements around the depth of pugging have been removed and replaced with a duty for farmers to take all reasonably practicable steps to minimise the effects of pugging on freshwater.

"A new condition has been added where critical source areas in winter crop paddocks will need to be identified and not cultivated or grazed." The changes will help protect the soil and waterways by placing greater importance on paddock selection and ensuring land is suitable for winter forage crops.

"Evidence shows soil loss greatly increases if winter forage crops are planted and grazed on slopes over 10 degrees," Mr Parker...