For farmers – with farmers

A changing policy landscape and another big year for farmers already under pressure.

Three major new environmental policies – the Zero Carbon Act, the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity and the Essential Freshwater package – have marked a significant shift in environmental regulation for our primary industries. “To help our primary industries navigate this changing landscape, we made our voice heard in the policy arena, representing our farmers and our business,” Ballance Agri-Nutrients Environmental Manager Dominic Adams says. “As a co-operative, our staff keep updated so they can provide timely information and advice to our farmers.” In the last year, Ballance made submissions on all three policies, which are expected to have both immediate and ongoing impacts on the primary sector. “With our focus on sustainable farming, we support each policies’ intent, however the devil’s in the detail,” Dominic says. “When the new freshwater regulations came into force on 3rd September 2020, we were pleased some of the key issues we’d submitted on had been addressed.” In its submission, Ballance had raised concerns over the lack of science underpinning the dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) national bottom lines, as well as requirements for an average riparian setback of 5 metres. Subsequently, the national bottom lines for DIN and DRP were put on hold for 12 months to allow for further scientific assessment. In addition, the average riparian setback requirement was reduced to a 3 metre minimum, with no need to move any existing fences not meeting this requirement. Dominic says this acknowledges the huge efforts already made by farmers to exclude stock from waterways. Ballance was also concerned about the supply of qualified rural professionals for preparing and certifying farm environment plans within the specified timeframes. The requirements and timeframes for farm environment plans will now be developed over the coming year. Ballance also submitted concerns about the shortage of specialist knowledge required to assess significant natural areas (SNAs) and prepare management plans, as required by the proposed new biodiversity policy. Dominic says the proposed approach to managing SNAs could also penalise landowners with a history of good conservation practice while rewarding those with little biodiversity. “We suggested setting a land use and restoration baseline of 1990, to reward farmers who have already been protecting areas on their land. Regional councils could also share the costs by providing rates relief to farmers enhancing biodiversity.” Ballance’s submissions on the three policies were based on: • science-based targets practical to implement mitigations and other actions required recognition of existing work and investment

reasonable timelines for implementation spreading costs so farmers do not bear the entire burden

integration of policies ensuring adequate capacity and capability to implement change

The Zero Carbon Act provisions are expected to start in 2021 and the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity is expected to be implemented in April 2021.

For more information, contact your Ballance Nutrient Specialist, your Farmlands Technical field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store

Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients