The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Winter grazing: Positive signs seen from the air

The Country
24 Jun, 2020 12:15 AM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Environment Southland carried out the first of its aerial inspections of winter grazing practices last week. Photo / Environment Southland

Environment Southland carried out the first of its aerial inspections of winter grazing practices last week. Photo / Environment Southland

Aerial compliance inspections have revealed positive improvements in winter grazing practices.

Farmers were advised last year that winter grazing practices needed to be significantly improved and a joint approach by Environment Southland, DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Federated Farmers, Ministry for the Environment and MPI was developed to help address the issues, Environment Southland chief executive Rob Phillips said.

Agriculture in Southland was very important to the regional and national economies, but some farming practices, if not done well, negatively impacted water quality, Phillips said.

"Winter grazing is a high-risk activity with regard to water quality and all farmers need to undertake good management practice."

Early observations from the preliminary flight last week suggested a better uptake of good management practices, such as fencing of waterways and the creation of buffer zones, with no immediate compliance concerns identified.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I'm encouraged by what we've seen. Farmers appear to have made a real effort, which is exactly what we need.

"We are mindful that it's still early in the season and this was only a preliminary flight to get an indication of any issues. Wet weather is inevitable and while this will present challenges, we expect farmers to continue their focus on good wintering practice."

The flights covered much of Southland, from Tussock Creek through to Garston and Mossburn and then some of the Western Southland area.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Staff are still working through the information and photos gathered during the flight and at this stage it looks like we will be looking to arrange follow-up advice for a handful of properties that could be at risk of winter grazing issues in wetter weather."

Discover more

Intervention groups plan early action on winter grazing issues

03 Jun 01:00 AM

Feds: Winter grazing – look beyond the one-off photographs

03 Jun 09:00 PM

Two cases referred to Otago Southland winter grazing group

09 Jun 09:00 PM
Environment

Winter grazing campaign launched

17 Jun 11:00 PM
Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

Premium
The Country

'That's what a true blue doco is': Why Lisa Burd's new film comes with a content warning

13 Jun 10:00 PM
Opinion

Forestry report: Export log prices provide winter relief – Marcus Musson

13 Jun 05:01 PM
The Country

'Game changer': Tail hair test could boost cattle efficiency

13 Jun 05:00 PM

It was just a stopover – 18 months later, they call it home

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

Premium
'That's what a true blue doco is': Why Lisa Burd's new film comes with a content warning

'That's what a true blue doco is': Why Lisa Burd's new film comes with a content warning

13 Jun 10:00 PM

A boots and all tribute to the women saving rugby.

Forestry report: Export log prices provide winter relief – Marcus Musson

Forestry report: Export log prices provide winter relief – Marcus Musson

13 Jun 05:01 PM
'Game changer': Tail hair test could boost cattle efficiency

'Game changer': Tail hair test could boost cattle efficiency

13 Jun 05:00 PM
Upokongaro: Where herons roost and gin wins gold

Upokongaro: Where herons roost and gin wins gold

13 Jun 05:00 PM
The woman behind NZ’s first PAK’nSAVE
sponsored

The woman behind NZ’s first PAK’nSAVE

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP