An update for the rural community Freshwater farm plans a practical and flexible tool for farmers and growers

Freshwater farm plans will start being introduced from 1 August in parts of Waikato and Southland, with other regions to follow over the next couple of years.

“While most farmers and growers will eventually need a freshwater farm plan, there is plenty of time and lots of help and resources will be made available,” said Sara Clarke, Director Implementation at the Ministry for the Environment.

The rst four guidance documents have been published on the ministry’s website, while Te Uru Kahika (regional and unitary councils of Aoteroa) is working on how-to guides for farmers and advisors. Freshwater farm plans are a risk-based approach for farmers to identify, manage and reduce the impact of farming activities on freshwater.

“The Government has spent the past three years working with councils, Māori, farmers, advisors, and industry groups on developing a system that will provide exibility for farmers and growers,” Clarke said.

“Many farmers and growers have already put in place a farm environment plan or are part of an industry programme.

“We are working with industry groups on what’s needed to align existing programmes with the new regulations.”

Around 34,500 farming enterprises are expected to eventually need a freshwater farm plan. Farmers and growers will need a freshwater farm plan if they have 20 hectares or more in arable, pastoral or mixed use, or ve hectares or more in horticultural use.

Protecting and improving freshwater Freshwater farm plans are part of the wider Essential Freshwater package which aims to protect and improve freshwater quality. The central principle of Essential Freshwater to make it easy to navigate. is Te Mana o Te Wai – healthy freshwater supports healthy communities, a healthy environment, and a healthy economy.

The health of lakes, rivers, wetlands and estuaries is the number one environmental issue for New Zealanders.

People should be able to swim in their local river without the risk of getting sick. People should also be able to catch sh and enjoy mahinga kai.

Stock exclusion from 1 July

From 1 July 2023 all stock must be excluded from natural wetlands identi ed in a regional or district plan.

In addition, certain classes of stock - dairy cattle and pigs, beef cattle, and deer that are intensively grazed – must be excluded from lakes and rivers wider than 1 metre.

Stock are allowed only to cross lakes and rivers twice a month and under supervision, unless by way of a bridge or culvert.

Consultation underway

The stock exclusion regulations were introduced in 2020 as part of the Essential Freshwater reforms.

A map of low slope land is incorporated by reference in the regulations and identi es areas where beef cattle and deer cannot have access to water bodies from 1 July 2025. Following feedback and subsequent consultation in 2021, the Government revised the map in 2022 to improve how slope is identi ed and to address the issue of lower intensity farming in the high country being unintentionally captured in the regulations.

While those updates improved how the map identi es slope, it is still capturing some lower intensity farming systems (i.e., at lower altitudes and slopes).

The Government has agreed to develop an ‘exception’ from the requirement to exclude beef cattle and stock from water bodies, for farms that meet a threshold or de nition for extensive farming.

The Government is consulting on options to address (until 16 July 2023).

To nd out more: environment.govt.nz/have-your-say

Next steps for farmers and growers

• The regional councils in Waikato and Southland are engaging with farmers and industry organisations on how to prepare for the new system.

• Farmers in an area where the regulations are in e ect have 18 months to prepare their rst farm plan for certi cation.

• Every freshwater farm plan will need an initial audit 12 months after certi cation (by a di erent person than the certi er) and will be graded from A to D.

• Regional councils will receive a report on every audit: grades A and B will mean a longer time before the next audit is due, while C and D grades will have a shorter time between audits.

• Farmers in other areas can start getting prepared now for freshwater farm plans, including thinking about how to transition an existing farm environment plan or industry assurance work into the new system.

Support for freshwater farm plan roll out

To help the rollout of freshwater farm plans, the Government is investing $22.5 million via the Essential Freshwater Fund to improve the capability and of farmers, growers, and advisors.

The funding will help with the development of freshwater farm plans.

The programme will assist farmers, growers, and farm advisors to develop freshwater farm plans, as well as setting up the certi er and auditor roles.

In addition, the funding will provide support for tangata whenua capability and capacity, and farmer-focused initiatives.

Nitrogen fertiliser reports due at the end of July

Around 4000 dairy farms submitted their synthetic nitrogen use report for the 2021-22 year, the rst year the regulations came into e ect.

Dairy farm managers are required to submit their report by the end of July, for the year ended 30 June 2023, to their regional council. Farms that use synthetic nitrogen fertiliser on pasture, or any other grazed land, may be subject to the synthetic nitrogen fertiliser regulations.

A limit of 190 kg per hectare per year on pasture came into e ect from 1 July 2021. A resource consent is needed if this limit is exceeded.

In 2022 the regional and unitary councils worked with Ballance and Ravensdown to create or enhance online tools for collecting the required data (Ravensdown’s HawkEye app; Ballance’s MyBallance app; and the Regional Sector’s N-Cap Webform at: n-cap.teurukahika.govt.nz