Farm Environment Plan implementation - freshwater management
Goal
2,900 farms have completed a Farm Environment Plan, as part of their land-use consent to farm, required under the Land and Water Regional Plan.
Progress
81% of farms have completed a Farm Environment Plan.
About this goal
We report the progress of 2,900 farms which are required to implement Farm Environment Plans as part of their land-use consent to farm under the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan. A Farm Environment Plan requires the farmer to achieve the industry agreed good management practice programme.
Why does it matter?
Land-use consent to farm and Farm Environment Plans are designed to manage farming activities that pose a high risk to the environment, such as farms with more than 50 hectares of irrigation or with winter grazing operations.
The setting of nitrogen loss limits and achieving good management practices on farms are key to maintaining and improving the water quality of the region’s rivers, streams, wetlands, lakes, estuaries and groundwater.
What's being done?
Around 1500 of these farms are managed through collectives or irrigation schemes and the remaining 1400 are individual farms. Another 4500 farms in Canterbury operate under a Permitted Activity status because their activities are of a lower environmental risk.
Farm Environment Plan progress
Find out more
Read the latest Farming to limits and Farm Environment Plan audits report.
Visit canterburywater.farm for more information for farmers.
Find out how ratepayer funding supports this work with our Rates Tool.