Winter grazing flights highlight environmental progress in Hurunui
Despite a wet winter, farmers in the Hurunui District are showing good progress in managing winter grazing. This feedback comes from our land management advisors following recent aerial monitoring flights.
Annual winter grazing flights provide a cost-effective way to assess winter grazing practices across the region, which can pose risks to water quality if not managed well.
Acknowledging the challenging weather, water and land northern team leader Andrew Arps said his team were encouraged to see many farmers strategically managing winter grazing in line with the national rules, including buffer zones to protect waterways and critical source areas (CSAs) fenced and left in pasture.
“Seeing the improvements from the air gives us a unique perspective on how well farmers are adapting to both regulatory requirements and environmental challenges,” said Andrew.
“From that viewpoint, we can decide whether it’s beneficial for a land management advisor to follow up with a landowner on the ground.”
Best practice winter grazing observed
He said a highlight was seeing the effort farmers had put into protecting waterways with riparian planting.
“There’s some excellent mahi (work) going on in this space, and it’s encouraging to witness the proactive steps being taken to safeguard our land and waterways.”
Other good practices observed included:
- grazing from the top of slopes down
- movable feeders and troughs
- back-fencing to protect wet ground
- on/off grazing during wet spells.
The team were joined by an industry representative during the flight, highlighting the collaborative approach between the council, farmers and industry to lift environmental performance in this space.
Before the flight, members of the water and land team supported events hosted by Amuri Irrigation Company and the Hurunui District Landcare Group.
Wet years highlight importance of protecting CSAs
In a wet year, protecting CSAs is vital. Natural features like gullies and swales can channel runoff loaded with sediment, nutrients and contaminants directly into waterways, harming ecosystems and endangering the health of people and livestock that depend on clean drinking water.
“From the air, it can be obvious where crops have been sown through critical source areas as they will often be stunted or yellow as they’ve got wet feet”, said Andrew.
“Now’s the time to check out where the water is running through the paddocks, as this could indicate a critical source area that may not be obvious in a dry year”, said Andrew.
“They can be marked on your farm map and winter grazing plan for future management. Some farmers even go out with temporary fence standards to mark them, which helps contractors who may do the spraying, cultivation or fertiliser spreading in spring.”
Plan now for next year’s paddock selection
When it comes to next year’s paddock selection, Andrew encourages critical thinking.
“Not every paddock will be suitable for winter grazing, particularly where there are multiple CSAs or tricky soils that may not handle higher animal traffic, or those lighter soils prone to leaching nitrate.”
He said with wet conditions showing up all the challenges, now’s a good time to think strategically about the paddocks you may already have earmarked for crop rotation.
“Ask yourself: Is the slope manageable? Can I shift breaks easily? Will this paddock need extra care to meet good practice and comply?”
Protecting the right to farm through good practice
Winter grazing often draws public scrutiny, especially during wet conditions. A wet winter period can often mean the organisation’s compliance staff are kept busy responding to pollution event callouts.
Andrew said maintaining awareness of the social licence to farm is key.
“Good practice protects more than just the environment — it protects market access and our reputation,” he said. “The world is watching, and Canterbury farmers who lead the way help future-proof our region.”
Supporting sustainable farming
Winter grazing flights are part of a broader education strategy by us, aimed at maintaining the region’s agricultural productivity while protecting its natural resources.
We will continue to work alongside farmers and industry partners to promote best practices and provide guidance throughout the winter grazing season.
Find out more about best practice for winter grazing.