The case studies and commentaries on this page highlight the importance of good riparian management.
These stories were published regionally or nationally during 2007 and 2008.
Dollars and sense in streamside planting
December 2007
Kaponga farmer Tom Gibson knows all about the value of stock. And about the value of streamside fences and plants.
A keen enthusiast for riparian (streamside) fencing and planting, he reckons it’s well worth the investment.
“I’d have to say, the cost of planting is a lot less than the cost of the stock I was losing,” he says.
And that was even before the current large dairy payouts, which have pushed cow prices up to $2,500-$3,000 a head – enough to pay a contractor to put in around 800m of tax-deductible riparian fencing.
Mr Gibson has been implementing a riparian management plan on his 100 ha property for five years. And he’s had the benefit of hard lessons from earlier forays into streamside work, seeing stock demolish new plantings after flood-damaged fences weren’t repaired quickly enough.
Now it’s smooth sailing, however, with a contractor taking care of the hard graft and Mr Gibson happy to see the end of stock being lost by drowning or by being bogged.
“At calving time the cows would head for the streams, and often come down with milk fever. If you weren’t there when they got up again, they’d get into the stream and drown,” he says.
Liver fluke is another lurking peril for animals drinking from streams, while agricultural research has also shown that cows drinking from reticulated troughs tend to walk less, eat more and do better than cows drinking from streams.
For these reasons and more, Mr Gibson says riparian fencing and planting has made farm and stock management much easier – providing shelter, for example, making stock movement safer, and making break feeding simpler because the temporary line can be strung across the paddock to a fence alongside a stream.
He also appreciates the protection and enhancement of water quality – the reason that riparian fencing and planting is among the targets under the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord Regional Action Plan agreed to by Federated Farmers, Fonterra and the Taranaki Regional Council.
Properly established riparian buffers filter sediment and pollution, and reduce the speed of run-off, which moderates stream flows and reduces flooding.
Riparian buffers also provide food and shelter for wildlife and corridors for plants and birds. Streamside vegetation also reduces water temperatures and supplies food for aquatic insects that in turn provide food for fish.
“Land in Taranaki is among the most valuable in the world,” says Mr Gibson. “And it’s the same with the waterways. We need to keep them as clean and pristine as possible.”
He also sees riparian management as complementing his other environmental investments in such things as effluent systems and pumps. “We’ve gone to a lot of expense over the years and we need to protect that.”
Farmers interested in obtaining riparian management plans, or wanting advice on implementing existing plans, can call the Taranaki Regional Council on 06 765 7127 and ask to speak to a Land Management Officer.
Busy farmer gets his plants sorted
November 2007
When Adrian Hofmans first got into riparian management, it didn’t take long for him to decide he needed help.
“Although I was new to it, I realised it was something we had to get right,” he says. “But it was a very stressful springtime and I was scratching my head about all these plants and how they should be planted.”
So he turned to a contractor, beginning an enduring partnership that has so far seen 70% of the 200 ha dairy farm’s river and stream banks planted out.
That amounts to a grand total of 4,000 native plants – as well as hundreds of pines and poplars planted around the farm to provide shelter and shade for stock. These will eventually be harvested.
There’s also an extra 8 km of fencing along streams and the river.
Mr Hofmans says he’s learned a thing or two about plants in the six years he’s working with a Taranaki Regional Council Land Management Officer to implement a riparian management plan.
But it’s also been invaluable to draw on the contractor’s knowledge of which native species are best suited to different areas on the farm, which backs on to the Waingongoro River near Eltham.
“And they do the pre-spraying, the planting and come back and spray again,” he says. “It’s taken off our hands and it’s all at a time when we are really busy anyway. In that first year I found I’d be thinking ‘we’ll do it tomorrow’, then when tomorrow came I’d be thinking ‘we’ll do it tomorrow’, and so it went on.”
Mr Hofmans didn’t have to look far to find his contractor – “he’s local and I know him” – but the Taranaki Regional Council can provide advice about using contractors as part of its work promoting and preparing riparian management plans.
For Mr Hofmans, it makes economic sense to factor in contracted riparian planting when preparing the annual work plan and budget. “It’s well worth it and it’s tax-deductable”
The Taranaki Regional Council promotes riparian planting because of its proven benefits in enhancing water quality. Properly established riparian buffers filter sediment and pollution, and reduce the speed of run-off, which moderates stream flows and reduces flooding.
Riparian buffers also provide food and shelter for wildlife and corridors for plants and birds. Streamside vegetation also reduces water temperatures and supplies food for aquatic insects that in turn provide food for fish.
Mr Hofmans also sees big stock-management benefits. “The last thing you want to be doing at 4 am is peering down stream beds and gullies to see if there’s an animal you’ve missed.”
He sees other benefits that are less tangible but still important: “I’ve really noticed the birds coming back – silvereyes near the flaxes or anything with flowers; native pigeons down by the river.”
Also important – and unexpected – is the aesthetic improvement. “I’ve realized the farm seems a more peaceful place with lots of trees planted around it.”
Another bonus: In some areas on the farm, native plants are self-regenerating behind that 8 km of new riparian fencing. “It’s been interesting to watch that,” says Mr Hofmans.
Taranaki Regional Council Land Services Manager Don Shearman says riparian planting can be an extra job for farmers in the early spring and Mr Hofmans’ experience shows that bringing in a contractor can be a cost-effective solution for planting large numbers.
Farmers can obtain free riparian management plans from the Council, whose staff prepare them using GIS technology. Suitable plants can also be supplied at cost. For more information, call 06 765 7127 and ask to talk to a Land Management Officer.
Stream of good sense
October 2007
For dairy farmer Steve Poole, riparian fencing and planting is a matter of commonsense.
“You don’t want stock in your waterways and you don’t want to have to go down there on your quad bike to get them,” he says.
“And if you fence the waterways, then you need to do some planting or the weeds will take over.”
Steve, who farms 180 ha in the Waiokura catchment on the Taranaki ringplain, has taken advantage of the Best Dairying Catchment Project this year to bring implementation of his Riparian Management Plan almost to completion.
He bought 3,000 plants and when he realized the magnitude of the task – “3,000 turns out to be a lot of plants when you go to pick them up” – he engaged a contractor to get them into the ground.
When his riparian plan was drawn up by the Taranaki Regional Council in 2003, he had 1.7 km of streambank to fence and 3.6 km to plant. Now it’s mostly done.
Convinced that such work makes good sense for stock management, Steve will also be watching with interest the results in future years of careful monitoring of the quality of Waiokura Stream by the Taranaki Regional Council, NIWA and others.
Scientific work in this and other regions suggests his efforts will pay handsome environmental dividends if matched by other farmers in the catchment.
Properly established riparian buffers filter sediment and pollution, and reduce the speed of run-off, which moderates stream flows and reduces flooding.
Riparian buffers also provide food and shelter for wildlife and corridors for plants and birds. Streamside vegetation also reduces water temperatures and supplies food for aquatic insects that in turn provide food for fish.
Steve Poole sees riparian work as one in the eye for critics who accuse dairy farmers of being environmentally irresponsible. “Claims like that I find annoying.”
He is also looking to the future for his children, who enjoy eeling and other recreation using the property’s streams.
Steve is appreciative of the riparian funding available through the Best Dairying Catchment Project and the assistance provided by the Taranaki Regional Council. “It’s there … why not take it up?”
The same assistance Steve enjoyed – 50% off the cost of plants and up to 50c each for planting – will be available to others in the Waiokura catchment and the other areas in the Catchment Project next season.
The money comes from the MAF Sustainable Farming Fund and Dairy InSight. Waiokura farmers wanting to join the project can contact the Taranaki Regional Council.
Lead or be led
By the Taranaki Regional Council Chairman, David MacLeod
for New Zealand Farmers' Weekly
March 2008
The Dairying and Clean Streams Accord of 2003 represented formal acknowledgement by dairy industry leaders that environmental neglect was to be put behind us for a rural vision incorporating healthy waterways as well as agricultural productivity.
It was a starting point for a necessary journey but one that is neither easy nor inexpensive – a fact easily overlooked by those not directly involved in the project. By comparison, sniping from the sidelines generally is a cheap and easy pastime.
In our region, for example, more than 300 rivers and streams flow from the slopes of Mt Taranaki across the prime dairy country of the surrounding ringplain. That’s a lot of streambank to fence and plant. Indeed, while the Taranaki Regional Council has already supplied land owners with more than 1 million trees at cost for riparian planting, there is still a long way to completion.
This Council has long recognised the importance of protecting water quality. Effective riparian management was a strong focus for many years before being incorporated into the Regional Action Plan drawn up under the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord.
Taranaki’s waterways are not crashing into decline, despite increasing intensification of dairying. Indeed, there are more positive water quality indicator trends than negative, although we do have some deterioration in nitrogen status. But importantly, phosphorus levels are reasonably stable – and it is phosphorus that is the worst culprit in algal growth because Taranaki’s streams are generally “P limited”.
We are not complacent, however, and with ever-increasing dairy stocking rates, we know more needs to be done to protect our waterways.
Unlike the approach elsewhere, the Regional Action Plan for Taranaki encompasses riparian planting as well as fencing. This is because of the proven effectiveness of riparian vegetation in filtering pollution and providing shade. Riparian buffers keep water temperatures down and enhance biodiversity.
The benefits have been underscored during the current dry summer when it has been noticeable that stream temperatures and biological stress are lower in catchments with significant riparian planting.
By the end of the last financial year, 62% of Taranaki dairy farms had a riparian management plan drawn up at no charge by Taranaki Regional Council staff. The target under the Accord is 90% by 2010.
The Regional Action Plan for Taranaki’s scoreboard to last June also included 48% of streambanks protected by fencing and 42% protected by vegetation, 93% of regular stream crossings adequately bridged or culverted, 100% of dairy farms having dairy discharge consents, 79% of regionally significant wetlands being fenced and 65%-plus of dairy farms having nutrient budgets.
Of the fencing and planting, however, only 3% to 4% is new work and the rest was already there before riparian management plans were drawn up. So there is much to be done to meet the Regional Action Plan targets of having 50% of the plans implemented by 2010 and 90% by 2015.
This Council’s approach in respect of riparian planting to control pasture run-off of contaminants to streams has long been to work alongside people to bring about positive environmental change. For example, we are now starting to co-ordinate tenders and contractors for the fencing and planting work, to further assist farmers.
But we are also not afraid of strict enforcement if we believe a regulatory approach is the most appropriate way forward.
A case in point is farm dairy shed discharge compliance – another important aspect of the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord. For many years the Council has strictly monitored and enforced compliance of consents for farm dairies.
The non-compliance rate was a record low 2.7% in Taranaki in 2006/2007, and a feature of that season was the relatively high number of prosecutions pursued by the Council, with fines ranging from $10,000 to $30,000. The Council also issued 73 abatement notices and 11 infringement notices relating to farm dairy non-compliance.
The evidence shows that as the use of enforcement tools increases, the compliance rate increases. The higher fines now set by the Environment Court also send a strong message to those in breach of their consents.
The Hon Jim Anderton and the Hon Trevor Mallard allude to the possibility of new regulatory instruments to enforce protection of water quality. That’s another strong message. When it comes to good water quality management practices, the challenge and opportunity facing our dairy farmers is to “lead or be led”.
The Taranaki Regional Council is committed to working with farmers to assist them to be leaders in sustainable farming. It is a common goal that we all need to share and achieve.
Riparian planting and fencing the way to go
By Taranaki Regional Councillor Michael Joyce
for Thursday Farmer, Taranaki Daily News
April 2008
No matter which way you look at it, riparian (streambank) fencing and planting on our region’s dairy farms makes tremendous sense.
I can look at this from a number of angles. I’m a dairy farmer, a dairy farm consultant and a trustee of the Westpac Taranaki Agricultural Research Trust. I’m also an elected member of the Taranaki Regional Council, after winning a seat in the South Taranaki Constituency in last October’s local body elections.
It’s clear to me that we must seize the opportunity to do our bit to ensure we can farm sustainably into the future and protect our licence to operate.
With the lift in payout, Taranaki dairy farmers have more revenue this year despite the drought in some areas. Riparian fencing and planting will never be cheaper and we need to act now while returns are good.
The Taranaki Regional Council has completed, at no cost to land owners, riparian management plans for 62% of the region’s dairy farms. But at the current rate of implementation, it will be decades before all these plans are turned into reality.
On the surface it may look good – 48% of dairy farm streambanks are protected by fencing and 42% are protected by vegetation in Taranaki. However, only 3% to 4% of this is new work and the rest was already there before riparian management plans were drawn up. So there is much to be done.
The Taranaki Regional Council and Taranaki dairy farmers may already have a good reputation for management of the environment but we cannot rest on our laurels.
Why riparian planting? Essentially, it helps to ensure the future sustainability of dairy farming. Properly established riparian vegetation filters agicultural run-off, regulates flow, keeps water temperatures down and protects both water quality and biodiversity.
But wait, there’s more. Good riparian management also:
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Ensures enjoyment of our natural heritage into the future.
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Helps to minimise stock losses by preventing animals from drowning in streams or swamps, or by preventing them contracting disease such as liver fluke from drinking in streams.
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Beautifies the landscape and provides a high level of physical satisfaction and enjoyment.
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Increases the value of the property, as farms with amenity planting sell for more.
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Sends a positive signal to consumers increasingly concerned about the environmental credentials of their food suppliers.
By acting right now, we will be able to enjoy these benefits within our own lifetimes. The task may seem daunting but assistance is available from the Taranaki Regional Council, the Taranaki Tree Trust and other sources.
We must all take responsibility for the future of our environment. Let’s do it now and lead the charge, as Taranaki has done in other issues over the years. If we wait, we may face regulations imosed by others outside our industry - likely to be far less acceptable.
That’s why it is so important that we all respond positively to the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord, and its Taranaki targets (including riparian work) set out in the Regional Action Plan agreed to by Fonterra, Federated Farmers and the Taranaki Regional Council.
By doing so, we will also capture a good return on the money we have already invested in riparian plans through our Taranaki Regional Council rates.
If you have any doubts, talk to a neighbour who has implemented a riparian plan. If you want to go further, call the Taranaki Regional Council on 0800 736 222 and ask to talk to a Land Management Officer.