Taranaki farmers are urged to order a-year-ahead to secure plants to protect water quality in the region.
This week about 400,000 plants will be collected to protect waterways, by streamside (riparian) planting as part of Taranaki's Riparian Management Programme. It is the biggest environmental programme on private land of its kind in New Zealand, but farmers are cautioned that they must order a-year-ahead of planned planting if they are to finish their riparian plans in time, 99.5 per cent of Taranaki dairy farmers have a riparian management plan.
Taranaki Regional Council (TRC), land services manager, Don Shearman, said the region's farmers bought plants "at cost" through Council's native plant scheme, to protect waterways by planting and fencing on private land. Savings through tendering and bulk purchases are passed on to farmers. However, unless farmers order a-year-ahead then contract growing couldn't accurately be tendered for to meet demand.
Contracts to grow plants in bulk had to be placed a year ahead, in June and July to meet the number of plants needed for the following year, he said.
The scale and voluntary participation by farmers on the riparian programme is unique to Taranaki.