increase font size
Lake Brunner, West Coast.
West Coast farmers have spent at least $8 million on conservation efforts to improve the water quality of Lake Brunner.
DairyNZ and NZ Landcare Trust surveyed half the 22 dairy farmers in the lake's catchment, finding they had spent $4.7 million on clean-up initiatives.
DairyNZ environment manager Dr Mike Scarsbrook says the farmers' achievements are impressive and reflect their commitment to preserving the environment.
"Based on our survey, we estimate that in total farmers have probably spent closer to $8-9 million on improvements," he says.
To date 70km of the streams flowing into Lake Brunner have been fenced off and 21,000 new plants have been added to banks to help prevent sediment from entering waterways. On top of this, 76ha of land has been retired by farmers.
"With each hectare valued at around $20,000 this amounts to a significant investment," says Scarsbrook.
The lake, 37km southeast of Greymouth, is the largest lake on the West Coast and a popular recreation and tourism hub.
Over the last 10 years, dairy farmers have undertaken a series of projects in collaboration with a number of organisations including West Coast Regional Council, Westland Milk Products, DairyNZ, AgResearch, NIWA, and NZ Landcare Trust.
Katie Milne, a national board member of Federated Farmers, helped set up the Lake Brunner Catchment Care Group in 2012. The catchment initially received $200,000 of funding from the Ministry for the Environment which was used for riparian planting, waterway fencing and restoration works.
"In the first round of action, farmers took on projects such building bridges for cattle crossings, introducing culverts, upgrading effluent systems and fencing off waterways. Many of these actions were voluntary which came at a cost to farmers," says Milne.
DairyNZ senior water quality specialist, Shirley Hayward, says the lake has previously experienced increasing phosphorus levels which can lead to a decline in water clarity.
"The catchment is characterised by extremely high rainfall of around five metres or more a year.
"This poses a significant challenge when keeping farm run-off from entering waterways. Farmers in the catchment have been working together to identify what changes they can make on farm to reduce nutrient inputs to the lake," says Shirley.
The catchment group is mapping out future plans for the protection of Lake Brunner. Further work is planned over the next five years which will broaden the scope of existing projects.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
DairyNZ has pulled together tactics that will help farmers improve on-farm efficiency and have positive benefits for the environment. These tactics are based on research, data, and lessons from leading farmers.
The design and construction of an effective dairy effluent system is a complex process.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
After serving three as a DairyNZ director, Waikato farmer Chris Lewis is ready for another term.
A landmark New Zealand trial has confirmed what many farmers have long suspected - that strategic spring nitrogen use not only boosts pasture growth but delivers measurable gains in lamb growth and ewe condition.
It was recently announced that former MP and Southland farmer Eric Roy has stepped down of New Zealand Pork after seven years. Leo Argent talks with Eric about his time at the organisation and what the future may hold.
It's critical that the horticulture sector works together as part of a goal to double the sector’s exports by 2035.
RaboResearch, the research arm of specialist agriculture industry banker Rabobank, sees positives for the Alliance Group in its proposed majority-stake sale to Ireland's Dawn Meats.
The ACT Party's call for a better deal on the Paris Agreement on climate change is being backed by farmer organisations.
A 50% tariff slapped by the US on goods from India last month has opened an opportunity for New Zealand wool carpets exports to North America.
