The Government has announced changes to intensive winter grazing regulations, in an effort to make the rules more practical for councils and farmers to apply and comply with.

Changes include an amendment to the definition of slope – from the mean slope across a paddock to the maximum slope – and replacement of default conditions around pugging and resowing with stand-alone duties to minimise effects. 

Sub-surface drains are now exempt from the need to keep stock 5 metres away, and a new default condition has been included to keep critical source areas ungrazed and vegetated. 

Changes were made with input from the Southland Advisory Group, which was established by Environment Southland following a meeting with farmers and Ministers David Parker and Damien O’Connor in September 2020. 

The group included several farmers, and staff from Beef + Lamb NZ, DairyNZ, Federated Farmers, Fish and Game and Environment Southland, and was asked to look at the implementation of the intensive winter grazing rules within the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater.

Their report was presented to Ministers in December 2020.

Environment Southland (ES) chairman Nicol Horrell says the council is pleased with the announced changes. 

“We fully support the changes that have been made to the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater and can see the Government has carefully considered the recommendations from the Southland Advisory Group in making those changes.”

“The advisory group’s recommendations around pugging, mean slope, and resowing dates have clearly been taken on board. We are glad the Government has taken these steps as they will provide practical solutions, not only for farmers to implement on the ground, but also for councils which monitor and enforce these regulations.” 

The updated regulations will come into effect from 1 November, 2022 and will not impact the 2022 winter grazing season.

However, farmers planning intensive winter grazing operations for the 2023 season will need to be familiar with the new regulations and requirements. 

Existing use rights will not apply to the 2023 winter grazing season and practices will need to be adjusted to comply with the new regulations.

“While we welcome these amendments, we still need to assess the changes in more detail to understand the implications,” says Horrell.