Selecting the right paddock, getting crop establishment right and managing grazing stock well goes a long way to helping the environment and meeting requirements of your regional council and new regulations released by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE).
Loss of soil including phosphorus from crop paddocks into waterways.
Movement of nitrate from animal urine to waterways.
Greenhouse gas emissions from stock.
Enviornment
Animals
Away from muddy CSAs:
Your farm business
TIP: Selecting the right paddock, getting crop establishment right and managing grazing stock well goes a long way to helping the environment and meeting the requirements of your regional council and new regulations released by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE).
Depending on the time of year, winter crop planning can start today – paddock selection for next year or grazing management for the crop being grazed today. Review your obligations as required by your local regional council for crop planning, including maximum areas of crop that you can sow and grazing strategies that optimise outcomes for both your animals and the environment.
Winter crop planning is no longer simply part of regular farm planning. Planning for and implementation of crop management now forms a part of the FEP and FWFP, as well as needing to meet expectations of local catchment groups, regional council, and current and future regulations within the National Environment Standards for freshwater (NES-FW). Well planned and implemented winter crop management will help meet current and future environmental components of industry assurance programmes such as the New Zealand Farm Assurance Programme.
More information about FEPs and FWFPs, the NES-FW and industry assurance programmes can be found on the DairyNZ, Beef and Lamb New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and your local regional council websites.
Find out about local regulations around winter grazing that apply to you at home and/or where your stock may be grazing.
Discuss ideas, concepts and planning strategies around crop and grazing management with friends, family and rural professionals you work with.