A new dairy industry-wide water accord has received a wide buy-in from stakeholders.
The ''Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord'' is a collective commitment between DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand. It replaces the ''Clean Streams Accord'', which expired last year.
The accord covers several key areas of environmental concern related to dairying, including riparian planting, nutrient management, compliance and a commitment to have 90% of dairy cows excluded from waterways by May 31, 2014, and full exclusion by May 31, 2018.
Many stakeholders have praised the accord as a positive step forward for the dairy industry.
Fonterra managing director Todd Muller said the accord recognised the changing demands placed on food producers and it was a necessary ''step up'' by the industry.
''Consumers and customers around the world are demanding more from their food suppliers in terms of environmental performance,'' Mr Muller said.
''To be successful and protect New Zealand's reputation as the origin for the world's best-quality milk, dairy companies need to connect and respond to this changing picture.''
Fonterra's suppliers would be well placed to meet the demands of the accord because of Fonterra's existing environmental expectations, he said. Fonterra's suppliers were aiming to exclude stock from waterways by December 2013.
Environment Southland Chairwoman Ali Timms said the council ''strongly'' supported the accord.
''The accord is a step up in the Southland region as all the dairy companies that local farmers supply are now accountable under it,'' she said.
''The accord is welcomed by Environment Southland because it will enable the dairy industry to continue to deliver on the actions needed to get the improvements in water quality that the Southland community wants.''
The accord complemented work the council was already undertaking and acknowledged the importance of such work, she said.
Federated Farmers dairy chairman Willy Leferink said the accord was not only a step in the right direction for environmental management, but a key aspect of Federated Farmers' aspiration to double the export value of dairying by 2025.
''As dairy farmers we have to lift our game on water quality,'' Mr Leferink said.
''If we want to meet the aspirations we have as an industry, if we want to meet government expectations and earn the respect of the wider community, then farming sustainably is the way ahead.
''Those two go hand in hand because livestock thrive only with good quality water.''
- Timothy Brown
Sustainable dairying: Water Accord overview
- Dairy farms will exclude dairy cattle from significant waterways and significant wetlands.
- Riparian planting will occur where it provides a water quality benefit.
- The crossing of waterways by dairy cows will not result in degradation of those waterways.
- Dairy farmers will manage nitrogen and phosphorus loss from dairy farming systems, acknowledge the need to manage within nutrient loss limits and pursue continuous improvement in nutrient use efficiency.
- Dairy farms will comply with regional council effluent management rules and resource consent conditions.
- Effluent systems installed on dairy farms will be fit for purpose and able to achieve total compliance with applicable rules.
- Dairy sheds will use no more water for washing down and milk cooling than is necessary to produce hygienic and safe milk.
- Irrigation systems will be designed and operated to minimise the amount of water needed to meet production objectives.
- New dairy farms will be established and operate using best practice from the outset to minimise potential negative consequences on water values and interests.
- Timothy Brown