17 March 2016

MEDIA ADVISORY

North Canterbury dryland farmers and irrigators to update on GMPs and FEPs

North Canterbury dryland farmers will be presenting the North Canterbury Landcare Manual to the Hurunui-Waiau Zone Committee at their meeting on March 21.

This is the first time the manual, which documents water-quality information and outlines the good management practices (GMPs) already being implemented on farms in the Hurunui-Waiau zone, will be brought before the zone committee.

The document has been developed as part of the North Canterbury Sustainable Farm Systems Project which saw the creation of catchment groups with an estimated 120 farmers involved in the four main groups.

The groups have been working together to ensure dryland farmers continue to be good stewards of the land and are well represented in the development of water quality policies in the zone.

The zone committee, set up under the Canterbury Water Management Strategy, works collaboratively to develop effective water management solutions that deliver economic, social, cultural and environmental outcomes which align with what their local community values.

The North Canterbury Landcare Manual includes examples of good practices relating to soil, nutrient, water, irrigation, effluent and biodiversity management and showcases nine farms utilising good management practice techniques.

The manual is yet to be officially launched.

Amuri Irrigation Company (AIC) will update the zone committee on their recent activities.

About one third of the 150 AIC shareholder farms are likely to have completed audits of their Farm Environment Plans (FEPs) by the end of April 2016.

A further 56 Waiau and Hurunui River independent irrigators are in the process of joining the AIC Environmental Collective and having their own farm environment plans developed.

Farm environment plans are required under the Land & Water Regional Plan for farms with a higher risk of leaching nutrients. They are a way of helping farmers work towards farming with good management practices with the aim of reducing nutrient losses from farms and improving water quality.

AIC will also update the zone committee on a proposal to pipe AIC lateral races.

A special AIC meeting on 24 February saw 95 percent of shareholders vote in favour of piping the scheme lateral races. The upgrade will allow for 4,500 ha of additional irrigation through reduced leakage and bywash.

Click here for the meeting agenda.

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