Clean streams accord part of a much bigger picture

Clean streams accord part of a much bigger picture

DairyNZ says the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord is just one example of the initiatives undertaken to improve dairy farming’s effect on the environment, and it is a strong supporter of farmers taking action to meet the Accord.

“We are pleased to see Fonterra’s results indicate that farmers are participating in support of the Accord. We have definitely found it helpful in getting farmers to take initiative to reduce their environmental footprint,” says Dr Rick Pridmore, DairyNZ Strategy and Investment Leader - Sustainability.

“The dairy industry is serious about environmental performance. DairyNZ is a cornerstone investor in $6.9 million of research into reducing the industry’s environmental footprint.”

He says DairyNZ is supporting the Accord and any future agreements between government and the dairy industry in several different ways.

“Our approach to helping the industry achieve compliance is a three-pronged one. Together with the industry, we are developing an Effluent Industry Code of Practice and training programme for companies involved in designing and installing effluent systems which will benefit farmers by giving them greater peace of mind when dealingᾠwith effluent specialists in future.

“We are working with councils to make sure the targets they are setting are realistic and can be achieved by farmers. And thirdly, we’ve developed tools such as the Farm Enviro Walk so that farmers can identify that they have got a problem and know where to get good advice on how to fix it.”

He says other work DairyNZ is involved in includes developing regional networks for the environment, getting environmental information to farmers, nutrient planning and working in priority catchments to improve water quality.

“Compliance with regional council regulations around disposal of farm dairy effluent is a bottom line for the industry. Although overall compliance has increased, there is still a minority of farmers who are not doing the right thing by the environment, and we have to change this.”

ENDS

ABOUT DAIRYNZ
DairyNZ is the industry good organisation representing New Zealand’s dairy farmers. Funded by a levy on milksolids, our purpose is to secure and enhance the profitability, sustainability and competitiveness of New Zealand dairy farming. We deliver value to farmers through leadership, influencing, investing, partnering with other organisations and through our own strategic capability. Our work inΰludes research and development to create practical on-farm tools, leading on-farm adoption of best practice farming, promoting careers in dairying and advocating for farmers with central and regional government. For more information, visit www.dairynz.co.nz

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