Policy

The Ministry for Primary Industries has developed a range of policy proposals to strengthen the biosecurity system and modernise the Biosecurity Act 1993.

The Government has set climate change targets and developed policies to reduce New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate.

New Zealand’s gene technology laws are being reviewed, which presents opportunities and risks for the dairy sector.

The Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord was launched in July 2013 and built on the work that began under the Clean Streams Accord.

The agricultural intensification rules apply where you want to increase or change some types of land use including dairy farm land, irrigated land and dairy support land.

Intensive winter grazing (IWG) means the grazing of livestock on an annual forage crop at any time in the period that begins 1 May and ends 30 September of the same year. Generally, winter crops (where fed in situ) come under the IWG regulations.

The regulations set rules which apply to feedlots and other stockholding areas such as feed pads, stand-off pads, winter pads and loafing pads.

Any person who owns or controls stock must follow the stock exclusion rules. Stock must be excluded from rivers, lakes and wetlands within certain timeframes depending on the type of stock, slope, and intensity of grazing.

These rules cover works within, or within 100 metres of wetlands, as well as structures in rivers (culverts, fords, dams, weirs, flap gates).

Applying synthetic nitrogen fertiliser to grazed land is limited to 190 kilograms per hectare, per year. Dairy farmers also must report annual nitrogen use.