Farmers and contractors sowing winter forage crops this spring are being reminded about Intensive Winter Grazing regulations and encouraged to contact their regional council if they have any questions.
Farmers and contractors sowing winter forage crops this spring are being reminded about Intensive Winter Grazing regulations and encouraged to contact their regional council if they have any questions.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Environmental Policy Manager Heather McKay says taking the time to identify the risks associated with individual paddocks at crop establishment will give farmers time to be pre-emptive in mitigating them.
She says factors to consider before crop establishment include slope, critical source areas, proximity to waterways, access, soil type, placement of supplementary feed, livestock classes, adverse weather events, shelter and loafing areas.
“While many of these are mentioned in the regulations, it just makes sense to consider these factors to help protect soil, water and nutrient resources while maintain high standards of animal welfare throughout the winter months.”
She encourages farmers to become familiar with Intensive Winter Grazing regulations and if they have any doubt about whether their winter grazing practices are a permitted activity then their regional council will be able to help.
“Regional councils are there to help farmers and will provide guidance around resource consent requirements and processes if one is required.”
Mrs McKay says it is not too early to put together a winter grazing plan. It helps by documenting the decision-making process around where to grow and how to feed winter forage crops and identifying any associated risks.
She says Beef + Lamb New Zealand has a wealth of Intensive Winter Grazing information on their website including a summary of the regulations, how to apply for a resource consent and winter grazing plan templates.
For more information about Intensive Winter Grazing go to Winter grazing | Beef + Lamb New Zealand (beeflambnz.com)