Dairy Farmers Still Not Meeting Clean Water Targets

March 17, 2011

Dairy Farmers Still Not Meeting Clean Water Targets

Dairy farmers are making changes across the country in an effort to
improve water quality but are still meeting only two of five targets
from the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord the latest progress report
says.

The /Snapshot of Progress/ is released annually by the Accord
partners Fonterra, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the
Ministry for the Environment and Local Government New Zealand.

It measures dairy farmers’ performance in meeting resource consent
conditions, bridging waterways, excluding stock from streams and
wetlands, and using nutrient management tools.

The /Snapshot for the 2009/10/ dairying season shows some progress
has been made on four of the five targets, and farms have reached or
exceeded two of the five Accord targets, the same overall progress as
was recorded in 2008/09.

MAF Deputy Director-General Paul Stocks says farm effluent management
is a critical part of a successful farming business, and the Snapshot
reflects the fact that a consistent effort by the Accord partners is
needed to improve farmer behaviour and farm system performance.

“After the good early progress of the Accord, all the easy wins
have been achieved. The sector is at now at the stage of incrementally
improving farming practices and upgrading equipment.”

Mr Stocks says the variation in monitoring regimes and climatic
conditions between different councils and in different seasons made
direct comparison of effluent compliance difficult, but the overall
trend since the start of the Accord showed progress continues to be
made.

“Nationally, the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord remains a key
environmental initiative alongside a wide range of other projects and
strategies set up to support and improve the dairy industry’s
social, economic and environmental performance.

“Farmers and Accord partners understand the need to maintain
improvement against all the Accord targets and work on getting farmers
up to speed with new technology and best practice to ensure our
country’s largest economic contributor can also be among its best
corporate citizens.

“This is evidenced in the early results of Accord partner
Fonterra’s Every Farm Every Year initiative, which will see about
1000 farms identified for, or volunteering for, remedial plans by the
end of the current dairy season.”

Mr Stocks also says a survey into stock exclusion on Accord farms
will take place mid-year, with a report due in November.

“This will provide Accord partners with further assurance about
farm practices in keeping dairy effluent out of waterways.”

*Dairying and Clean Streams Accord Snapshot of Progress 2009/10
highlights:*

Target

2008/09
2009/10

Dairy cattle to be excluded from 50 percent of streams, rivers and
lakes by 2007, rising to 90 percent by 2012
80%
85%

Fifty percent of regular crossing points to have bridges or culverts
by 2007, and 90 percent by 2012
98%
99%

All dairy farm effluent discharge to comply with resource consents
and regional plans immediately
60%
65%

All dairy farms to have in place systems to manage nutrient inputs
and outputs by 2007
99%
99%

Fifty percent of regionally significant wetlands to be fenced by
2005, rising to 90 percent by 2007 (note: progress on this target
relies on the 13 relevant councils identifying their significant
wetlands)
Identified: 7 of 13;

2005 target met: 3
Identified: 9 of 13;

2005 target: 3

2007 target: 1

Resource consent compliance

Nationally, compliance with effluent resource consents have
increased since the last Snapshot, with minor non-compliance figures
dropping. Significant non-compliance figures have increased slightly
from 15 to 16 percent
Full compliance rates varied markedly across the country with the
worst in Southland (39 percent) and the best in Taranaki (96 percent)
The best improvement was recorded in Otago, with 95 percent full
compliance, compared to 75 percent in 2008/09

ends

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