Ashburton Courier: May 12, 2022

FEATURE
50 Ashburton Courier, May 12, 2022
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Dairying In the Heart of Canterbury
Wintering rules more practical
Ongoing work by the farming
sector has seen government
make wintering rules much
more practical on­farm,which
is goodnewsfor farmers.
Government announced
that, following consultation
andcontinuedwork withthe
farming sector and other
stakeholders, significant
changes have beenmade to
several winter grazing
requirements.
DairyNZ general manager
for sustainable dairy Dr David
Burgersaid the changes
addressed farmer concerns
that the rules were
impractical and unclear, and
wouldn’t improve
environmental or animal
welfare outcomes.
‘‘Farmers and the
community both wanttosee
improvements in winter
grazingpractices andfarmers
are committed to delivering
that on farms.
“We’repleased the
Governmenthas listened to
feedbackand amended the
newrules so they'repractical
andinformedbygoodscience,
so willactually deliver better
outcomes.”
Dr Burgersaid DairyNZ
would request government
workwiththe farmingsector
on guidance on thenew
regulations.
‘‘DairyNZ willcarryout a
comprehensive review of the
changes tochecktheywon’t
create any issueswhen
implemented on­farm,and
will keep farmers informed of
the assessment.”
DairyNZsupported the
removalofpugging and
resowing rules, whichwere
some ofthe key changes
announced.
‘‘These werechallenging
forfarmerstoimplement, for
example weatherconditions
candelayresowing,” said Dr
Burger.
“The focus on critical
source areaswillhelpprotect
ourwaterways. These areas
have ahigher riskofnutrient
lossand avoiding cultivating
andgrazing these areas
during winter makessense.
Wintering rules have been made more practical on­farm, which is good news for farmers.
“By setting 1November
2022for the regulations to
become operative, farmers
can now start planning for
winter 2023. However, we also
need to seefurther guidance
fromthe Governmenton
freshwater farmplan
regulations, so thatfarmers
have all the information they
need to meet thenew
regulations.”
Dr Burgersaid the dairy
sector has made significant
improvements in wintering
practicesoverthe pasttwo
years.
‘‘Last season,80percent of
dairy farmers had awintering
planatthe startofthe season
and 89 percentalsohad a
contingency plan to protect
their animals andthe
environmentinbadweather.”
He saysDairyNZ, the
farming sector, andfarmers
are alreadyplanningahead
forthe comingwinter, and are
continuing to work togetherto
raise thestandardof
wintering practices.
The changes announced by
government are that:
paddocks willneed to be resownfollowing
winter
croppingassoonas
conditionsallow,insteadofby
afixeddate.
Rulesabout pugging depth
in paddocks have been
removed andreplaced with a
requirement that farmers
take steps to minimise the
effects of puggingon
freshwater.
Farmers must protect
criticalsource areas,bynot
cultivating andgrazing them
duringthe winter grazing
period from Mayto
September.
Andfarmerswho carry out
winter grazing in paddocks
with slopes over 10 degrees
will alsoneedtoeither obtain
aresourceconsent, or include
how theywillmitigaterisks in
theircertified freshwater
farmplanoncethese are
available.
Biosecurity
funding
increase
An $111 million funding
injectionfor biosecurity is a
pragmaticacknowledgement
how vital it is to stoppest
organisms at ourborders,
FederatedFarmers says.
FederatedFarmers arable
chair and plantbiosecurity
spokesperson Colin Hurstsaid
extra money in theMay budget
showedanappreciationby
government how pest
incursions can wreak havocin
primary industries.
‘‘Plenty ofbudget rounds go
by withoutany bolstering of
funding for biosecurity so we
congratulatethe government
for making this apriority,’’ he
said.
The funding announcement
was the same day as thefourth
anniversary ofNew Zealand’s
world­first attempt to eradicate
the cattle diseaseMycoplasma
bovis(Mbovis) ­indeed the
$110.9minthe budget includes
$68 million overthe coming
yeartocontinue momentumon
the Mbovis programme.
‘‘We needtokeep our foot on
the throat of this disease,’’ Mr
Hurst said.
‘‘Overthe last few years 271
farms have been cleared of
Mbovis and we’re down to just
one infected property.
‘‘FederatedFarmers thanks
both those farmers who have
taken ahit on behalf of their
colleagues and sector, and also
those officials who have
workedhard to get the
programme right.
‘‘It does underlinethe huge
costs anddisruption that can
be avoidedwhenwe stop these
organisms from getting into
New Zealand, or when they’re
here, stopthem from wider
spread in our herds and
environment.
‘‘Our biosecurity personnel
deserve proper resources to do
their work well,’’MrHurst
said.
‘‘This will be increasingly
importantasour borders open
up to internationalpassenger
travel.’’
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