Introducing the new Sustainable Water Accord

Introducing the new Sustainable Water Accord. What has changed. > asb.co.nz/rural Contents 1 Background. With the launch of the Rural Environme...
Author: Calvin Walker
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Introducing the new Sustainable Water Accord. What has changed.

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asb.co.nz/rural

Contents 1

Background.

With the launch of the Rural Environmental Compliance Loan, it is an opportune time to consider the release of the “Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord” (“the new Accord”) – a successor to “The Dairying and Clean Streams Accord” (“the old Accord”). The old Accord had a ten year term which expired in May 2012. The development of the new Accord, formally launched on 9th July 2013, had oversight by the Dairy Environment Leadership Group, which includes representatives from farmers, dairy companies, central government, regional councils and the Federation of Maori Authorities.

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Structure.

The accountable partners of the Accord are DairyNZ, Fonterra, OpenCountry, Miraka, Synlait, Tatua, and DCANZ. Supporting Partners and Friends of the Accord are also listed in the document.

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Key Commitments.

The purpose of the new Accord is to “Enhance the overall performance of dairy farming as it affects freshwater by:

2 Riparian Management




• Most dairy companies have signed up to it; Westland has initially signed as a Friend rather than an Accountable Partner. It has an existing accord with the West Coast Regional Council.

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• A number of additional targets have been added to the ones originally contained in the old Accord; • Existing targets have been tightened; and • The means of measuring progress towards the targets will be more robust.

Structure. Unlike the old Accord, the new Accord is not a bilateral agreement between Fonterra and various Central and Local Government bodies. Rather it brings together: • All of New Zealand’s dairy companies and DairyNZ (Accountable Partners with the exception of Westland. DCANZ is an Accountable Partner); • Organisations that have specific interests in pastoral farming for example Irrigation NZ, Federated Farmers and Fertiliser Association of New Zealand (Supporting Partners); and • Other stakeholders who effectively represent non-farming interests – for example Iwi Leadership Group, Regional Councils and Government agencies (Friends of the Accord). Accountable partners have specific responsibilities under the new Accord which they are required to carry out to the best of their abilities. Of more importance, they are accountable for delivering the commitments and monitoring and reporting – though there is nothing in the document which sets out the sanctions (if indeed there are any) if they fail to meet these ideals. Supporting Partners “make commitments to the outcomes the new Accord promotes in support of the accountable parties” while Friends “are supportive of the purpose of the new Accord and commit to its success in the spirit of collaboration.” ASB Bank Limited 56180 12108 0713

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Key Commitments.

2. Nutrient Management.

The following tables match the commitments made under the old Accord to those proposed under the new Accord.

• Dairy farmers will manage Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P) loss from dairy farming systems, acknowledge the need to manage within nutrient loss limits and pursue continuous improvement in nutrient use efficiency.

Expectation:

1. Riparian Management. Expectations: • Dairy farms will exclude dairy cattle from significant waterways and significant wetlands • Riparian planting will occur where it would provide a water quality benefit

New Accord

Old Accord

Notes

Data collection from 100% of dairy farms by May 2015 recording N loss and N conversion efficiency.

All dairy farms to have systems in place to manage nutrient input and output by 2007. Target of 100% not achieved. 99% have a nutrient budget in place with 56% having a nutrient management plan in the 2011/2012 update.

DairyNZ will develop a nitrogen management system for dairy companies to model N loss on supplier dairy farms by May 2013.

• The crossing of waterways by dairy cattle will not result in degradation of those waterways

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New Accord

Old Accord

Notes

Exclusion of dairy cattle from 100% of the length of waterways and drains by May 2017. The exclusion applies to waterways and drains wider than one metre in width and deeper than 30cm and from significant wetlands on dairy farms.

Exclusion from 90% of streams lakes and rivers by 2012. Per the 2011/12 update, 87% exclusion had been attained – though it was observed that this was based on verbal assurance and actual observation indicated a significantly lower level of exclusion.

New Accord includes drains – old Accord only applied to “streams, rivers and lakes” that are ankle deep, more than a metre across and permanently flowing. Note that to qualify, a drain must also be permanently flowing, wider than 1 metre and deeper than 30cm.

Exclusion of dairy cattle from all significant wetlands (per an operative regional policy statement of regional plan) on dairy farms.

90% of regionally significant wetlands to be fenced by 2007. The 2011/12 update does not state how much progress has been made towards this target.

Requires regional councils to designate their significant wetlands. At the date of the 2011/12 update, three regional councils still had not done so.

Implement measures to ensure that 100% of regular stock crossing points are either bridged or culverted by 31 May 2018.

90% of regular crossing points to have bridges or culverts by 2012. According to the 2011/12 update, 99% of regular crossing points have been bridged or culverted, though the definition of what constitutes a regular crossing point has been significantly expanded.

Definition of “regular crossing point” has changed. The old Accord defined it as having more than two stock crossings (each consisting of there and back) a week averaged over a year. The new Accord defines it as a place where dairy cattle cross to access the milking shed, then return following milking more than once a month.

50% of all farms with waterways to have a riparian management plan by 31 May 2016 (and all to have fully implemented the riparian management plan by 31 May 2030); 100% of all farms with waterways to have a riparian management plan by 31 May 2020.

No equivalent.

Riparian management plan records what riparian margin is to be planted and with what species in order to promote the water quality and/or and biodiversity objectives sought by the landowner. Riparian management plans are not required if there would be no water quality benefit from such planting.

Fertiliser companies will provide nutrient budgeting/management programmes to dairy farmers. Fertiliser companies will also collect N use and management data from dairy farmers.

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In nutrient saturated areas, reduce, as appropriate, N/Ha and/ or P loss. Employ catchment best practice programmes to improve water quality.

May be captured above.

Manage P loss from sediment discharge, run off, and overland flows.

May be captured above.

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3. Effluent Management.

4. Water Use Management.

Expectations:

Expectations:

• Dairy farms will comply with regional council effluent management rules and/or Resource Consent conditions.

• Dairy sheds will use no more water for wash down and milk cooling than that necessary to produce hygienic and safe milk.

• Effluent systems installed on dairy farms will be fit for purpose and able to achieve 365 day compliance with applicable rules.

• Irrigation systems will be designed and operated to minimise the amount of water to meet production objectives.

New Accord

Old Accord

Notes

New Accord

Old Accord

Notes

100% of farms to be reviewed by May 2014 for regulatory compliance (Resource Consent and regional plan rules).

All dairy farm effluent discharges to comply with resource consents and regional plans immediately (May 2003). By 2011/2012, 73% of farms were fully compliant with regional council and Resource Consent rules.

Assessment every 3 years under new Accord.

Introduce programmes by May 2014 to help farmers meet national and local regulation controlling water takes.

No equivalent.

Promote water use efficiency on the farm through the Smart Water Use programme (on-going).

No equivalent.

Non compliant farmers referred to Sustainable Dairying Advisor as part of Supply Fonterra Effluent Management Programme.

Annual review until compliant, then on 3 year assessment cycle.

Require 85% of all dairy farms (includes all significant water users) to have water meters installed by 2020.

Dairy companies to report dairy farms with water meters, and provide programmes and resources to encourage compliance with national and local regulation.

Farms at risk of non compliance will be put on a farm specific management plan.

10% of dairy farms were significantly non compliant with respect to the regional council and Resource Consent rules in 2011/2012. Primary causes: poor effluent disposal, lack of storage, inadequate infrastructure to handle growth, and run-off from feed/stand-off pads.

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Programme to reduce reliance on discharges from two pond FDE treatment systems by May 2014.

No equivalent.

5. Conversions.

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Expectations: • New dairy farms use best practice from the start to minimise potential negative consequences on water values and interests.

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• New dairy conversions will comply with all relevant regional plan rules and hold all necessary consents. DairyNZ will build excellence in design, construction, & maintenance of effluent management infrastructure.

New Accord

Old Accord

Notes

From May 2013 all new dairy conversions must comply with all the programmes above before milk collection commences. (Note: May 2015 to meet the riparian management plan).

No equivalent.

Ensure expectations are well understood by those advising on farm conversions and are factored into the conversion decision making (on-going).

6. Conclusion. An increasing world population coupled with greater urbanisation, especially in Asia, creates significant global export opportunities for New Zealand’s suite of agri products. The farming sector is the driving force of the NZ economy, and in order to realise the economic benefit for all New Zealanders from food exports, it is important that our farmers get the balance right between productivity and environmental sustainability. Rural NZ need to lead the action and communication around how that balance is being achieved, building on the investment and good work, such as the initial Accord, that has already taken place.

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