Freshwater Farm Plans are a tool for freshwater regulation. They require a farm plan tailored to mitigate risks to land and water on farm. National regulations relating to Freshwater Farm Plans have been paused while changes to the system are made, although some regional rules may still apply. Many farmers already have a farm environment plan or are part of an industry programme. Freshwater Farm Plans will build on the work that is already underway.
DairyNZ supports Freshwater Farm Plan regulations as a farm-specific and practical alternative to rules or resource consents. Our Regional Policy Team is working with regional councils to encourage the utilisation of Freshwater Farm Plans in their regional planning approaches in place of new rules or resource consent requirements.
Currently the national roll out of Freshwater Farm Plans has been paused while changes to the system are being made. These changes are aimed at reducing the costs and complexity of the system. Our Regional Policy Team have been providing practical feedback to the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry for Primary Industries on improvements to the system.
The pause only relates to the national Freshwater Farm Plan requirements. Regional councils may still require a farm plan in some form which farmers will need to comply with. Check the farm planning requirements for your region and continue work on existing voluntary farm plans in the meantime.
DairyNZ views Freshwater Farm Plans as a pragmatic approach to achieving freshwater outcomes desired by the community. We are advocating for a trusted system that provides an alternative to rules or resource consents and tailors actions to the farm system. This can be achieved by reducing some of the costs and resources required by the Freshwater Farm Plan system, and those savings can be invested in action on farm instead.
For more information visit Ministry for the Environment website - Freshwater farm plans.
What is DairyNZ’s view on Freshwater Farm Plans?
- DairyNZ supports Freshwater Farm Plan regulations as a farm-specific and practical alternative to rules or resource consents.
- Most dairy farmers are already using some form of farm planning for farm decision making. Freshwater Farm Plans allow formal recognition of previous investment in on-farm mitigations to improve freshwater outcome.
- Implementation pathways and guidance for farmers and regional councils will continue to be important to ensure a smooth transition from existing farm planning efforts.
- The Freshwater Farm Plan system requires an implementation approach which makes plans easy to develop, and regulations that ensure the plans are a valid, cost-effective and farm-specific alternative to resource consents.
- The information farmers are required to provide through Freshwater Farm Plans needs to be justified and farmer privacy respected.
What was DairyNZ’s involvement in the Freshwater Farm Plan regulations development?
- DairyNZ has been involved in multiple rounds of testing of policy options for a new Freshwater Farm Plan system. We advocated for practical adjustments to reduce the costs and complexity associated with the system and utilise existing plans.
- We worked closely with dairy companies as wider agricultural stakeholders and the regional sector, to suggest options that work for the sector.
What’s the difference between an existing FEP and a Freshwater Farm Plan?
- Farmers can use information from their existing plan in their FWFP or provide it to a plan developer as a starting point.
- FEPs may need information added, amended, or updated in the following areas:
- catchment context information (provided by the regional councils)
- an on-farm risk assessment
- selected actions to manage identified risks which will be audited.
- Many existing farm environment plan providers, such as dairy companies, will update, or have already updated, their programmes to meet Freshwater Farm Plan certification requirements.
Where else can I find information on Freshwater Farm Plans?
- Ministry for the Environment guidance on developing a freshwater farm plan.
- Your local regional council will have more information on how Freshwater Farm Plans will be implemented in your region.
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