21 November 2006

Reports Highlight Importance Of ‘10 In 10’

Ministry for the Environment reports on river and lake water quality highlight the need to reduce nutrient loss to waterways, said Hugh Ritchie of Federated Farmers of New Zealand.

The reports link nutrients in waterways to pastoral agriculture and underscore the importance of the recently launched Federated Farmers “10 in 10” campaign.

“Federated Farmers’ has asked every member to commit to reducing their farm’s environmental impact, in the form of nutrient loss, by 10 percent over the next 10 years – ‘10 in 10’. Keeping nutrients on farms means less will flow into waterways, which is good for the environment and good for farming,” Mr Ritchie said.

Federated Farmers acknowledges the impact of farming on waterways, and it is this that the “10 in 10” campaign is helping to reduce, by assisting and encouraging farmers to reduce their nutrient loss through new and existing farm management techniques and technologies.

These include nutrient budgeting, nitrogen inhibitors, riparian planting, and a range of other environmental initiatives.

“Federated Farmers is confident that farmers and researchers are making progress on reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. But more progress is needed.

“It makes perfect economic sense for farmers to reduce the loss of inputs from their farms and to efficiently convert nutrients and energy into products to export.

“Loss of nutrients into aquifers and waterways not only impacts on the environment but represents a loss from the production system and a loss from the farm’s bottom line. Reducing nutrient losses is a win-win for the three elements of sustainability –environmental, economic and social sustainability,” Mr Ritchie said.

ENDS

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