Farming clean streams

Farming clean streams

Ballance Agri-Nutrients has launched a specialist team to help farmers navigate increasingly complex environmental regulations and consent requirements to promote clean green land, rivers and streams.

Alastair Taylor, the new Business Extension Services Manager at Ballance Agri-Nutrients said national programmes such as the Sustainable Dairying Water Accord are putting increased pressure on farmers to manage the nutrients within the farmgate.

“Farmers need to navigate through regulations around effluent management, nutrient use and environmental performance. Our new team will provide a direct link between farmers and regional councils to take the hassle out of environmental compliance.

“Regional councils are monitoring farms using the Overseer nutrient management model, which is jointly owned by the fertiliser industry, AgResearch and the Ministry for Primary Industries. It makes good sense that we work beside our farmers to ensure their nutrient management practices both provide excellent pasture growth results and also comply with regional plans.

“Throughout New Zealand there is myriad of environmental regulations, by region and within regions. Our specialist team, with local experience and knowledge, helps farmers comply with their local land and water plans,” said Alastair.

The Ballance Business Extension Services team provides nutrient budgets for resource consents, compliance and sale and purchase agreements. Initially focused in Canterbury, the team has expanded its service to Horizons, Otago and Southland regions.

“In addition to expert knowledge of Overseer and modelling farm systems, we also work closely with both the Ballance science and sales teams to ensure we’re giving farmers the best science-related advice in the market,” he said.

The Business Extension Services Team has recently contacted all Ballance dairy customers in the Canterbury region to offer them assistance in obtaining their Nitrogen Baseline – required under the regional Land and Water Plan. The team can be contacted onnutrient.budget@ballance.co.nz

ENDS

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