fbpx
Print this page
Saturday, 05 December 2020 05:55

O'Connor announces further investment in soil

Written by  Staff Reporters
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor has announced further investment in the S-Map tool. Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor has announced further investment in the S-Map tool.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced a $6.25 million investment in mapping New Zealand’s most valuable soils.

“The more we know about our natural resources, including soils, the better we can make good sustainable land use decisions,” O’Connor said.

He says that good farm planning advice and good data are essential to the roadmap.

The government will invest the money, which was allocated in the 2019 Productive and Sustainable Land Use package, in expanding S-Map.

S-Map is a tool which combines on-the-ground soil sampling with digital mapping technologies.

“Expanding S-Map will have lasting benefits for our regions,” O’Connor said.

MPI has commissioned Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research to work with councils across New Zealand over the next five years to carry out the project.

The project could add approximately 1.5 million hectares of land to S-Map.

Manaaki Whenua chief executive Dr Richard Gordon says the information provided by S-Map is important for freshwater modelling and nutrient limit setting.

“We know there is strong demand for greater S-map coverage, to inform decision making on a range of national issues including climate change, food production, and meeting new freshwater regulations.”

As of August 2020, S-Map covers 50 percent of New Zealand’s farmable land (36 percent of total land).

More like this

Save soil - take a pledge this 'world soils day'

OPINION: Soil is one of the most valuable assets that a farmer has. It is our collective responsibility to make use of soils without damaging either the soil or any other part of our environment, protecting them for our own use and use by future generations.

China-NZ FTA upgrade

An upgraded free trade agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and China comes into force from April 7.

Featured

People-first philosophy pays off

The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

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.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

National

Machinery & Products