Rewarding farmers who embrace sustainability
Winners of DairyNZ’s Sustainability and Stewardship awards in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards have their eyes firmly fixed on progressing a positive future for New Zealand dairy.
A new report has found we are damaging and losing our soils and our native plants and animals, but DairyNZ says farmers are working to fix the issue.
‘Our Land 2018’ is the latest report in the environmental reporting series published by the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ.
“The report makes it clear that we need to pay attention to what’s going on in our soil, which underpins our economy. It shows us where we need to focus,” Penny Nelson, Deputy Secretary at the Ministry for the Environment said.
The report found erosion and intensive agriculture are the main culprits for declining soil quality. It found 192 million tonnes of soil are lost every year from erosion – 44% of this is from pasture.
Soil quality testing shows 2 out of 7 indicators give reason for concern, with 48% of tested sites outside the target range for phosphorus content and macroporosity.
The report also found nearly 83% of our native birds, bats, reptiles, and frogs are classified as threatened or at risk of extinction (between 2010 and 2016).
DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says much of the work farmers have underway to improve water quality has the co-benefit of improving soil quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“Our farmers rely on good quality soil for their businesses to be productive and profitable,” says Mackle. “We are working hard right now to address water quality, and much of this involves the way in which we care for our land and soil.”
“No farmer wants to see their soil damaged, as it inevitably leads to a drop in productivity,” says Mackle. “We are seeing more and more farmers using mitigations like standoff pads and removing stock from the paddock at times when the soil is most vulnerable to compaction, and management of areas highly susceptible to erosion and sediment loss.
Mackle says the report highlights the importance of the hard work the dairy sector is carrying out to improve its environmental footprint, but more work is required.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.