This month, Environment Southland chief executive Rob Phillips said compliance from farmers was excellent. Environment Minister David Parker said this season councils were expected to increase monitoring and reporting of intensive winter grazing practices across their regions, and encouraged practices as outlined by the 2021/22 Intensive Winter Grazing module. “I have made it clear I expect councils to monitor the total hectares in IWG, and I expect a reduction in the quantity of IWG and an improvement in the quality of winter grazing practice. “I understand that [Ministry for the Environment] have received feedback that councils are making progress in their increased monitoring,’’ he said.
Government releases Intensive Winter Grazing Module
27 Apr, 2021 08:45 PM
3 minutes to read
The Country
Extra monitoring and a range of practical support is being rolled out to help farmers achieve immediate improvements in intensive winter grazing practices, Agriculture Minister Damien O Connor has announced.
Intensive winter grazing is a farming practice where livestock, such as cattle and sheep, progressively graze areas planted with fodder crops.
It was widely acknowledged that, if done poorly or too extensively, the activity had serious negative effects on both animal welfare and the environment, particularly freshwater and estuary health.
The Ministry for Primary Industries, Ministry for the Environment, councils and industry representatives, developed an online tool to help improve practices to benefit freshwater quality and animal welfare, O Connor said.