Environment Minister Amy Adams has announced funding of $125,000 to support an Otago Regional Council study to measure nitrogen leaching in the catchments of lakes Hawea, Wanaka and Wakatipu.
''The study will improve the prediction of nitrogen leaching from sheep and beef farms, which is not as well understood as dairy farming,'' Ms Adams said in a press release yesterday.
Farmers in the lakes catchments have agreed to a nitrogen loading limit of 15kg of nitrogen per hectare per year.
''This project will provide further validation on the role of soil type and influence of rainfall, and refine outputs to ensure farms can remain financially viable and manage to limits,'' Ms Adams said.
