| 89 nzdairy From wintering barns and herd homes, to catch crops, strategic grazing, riparian buffers, and carefully managed Critical Source Areas (CSAs), farmers are finding innovative and proactive ways to manage environmental risks. DAIRY SERVICES » Environment Canterbury 0800 PLAINS 7 JB Cullen Drive Ashburton 81 Hilton Highway Timaru Ph 03 307 2027 Ph 03 688 7042 LIMITED SALES DESIGN & SERVICE BY LINDSAY • IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, PUMPS, PVC: SALES, SERVICING AND REPAIRS • ZIMMATIC FIELDNET AND INTELLIGENT PRECISION VRI - BY PLAINS Although CSAs often occupied only a small percentage of a paddock, their influence on water quality outcomes could be significant. Under the national winter grazing regulations, CSAs must remain in grass – meaning not cultivated, cropped or grazed. They also needed to be fenced from stock during the winter grazing period from 1 May to 30 September. Farmers should take note of low points in their paddocks where water ponds after rain, as these were likely CSAs. Areas of high foot traffic such as laneways, stock races, yards, feeding or trough areas, and gateways were also considered CSAs. Sarah said it was important to keep CSAs in grass and leave a buffer between them and your winter crop. “Long grass is a natural filter that helps trap sediment and nutrients before they reach our waterways,” Sarah said. She said grazing towards a waterway or CSA from the far end of the paddock helped maintain more vegetation between stock and vulnerable areas for longer. Farmers should document what worked, what didn’t, and any environmental risks identified during the season to improve planning for future winters. Catch crops Planting catch crops, like oats, as soon as possible after grazing was an effective way to absorb excess nitrogen that might otherwise leach into groundwater. Catch crops could also make a useful source of feed or income during harvest time. Ensuring ground cover as soon as practical after winter grazing reduced erosion risk and supported paddock recovery heading into spring. No one system fits all The common theme across Canterbury’s most successful winter grazing systems was not any one practice, but the way multiple mitigations worked together. Farmers were increasingly building systems that reduced risk at every stage. As expectations for freshwater outcomes continued to grow, many Canterbury farmers were showing that proactive planning, innovation and a willingness to stack mitigations could deliver results for both farm businesses and the environment. KlipTanks are a patented composite tank design, constructed of lightweight, yet robust and durable materials. KlipTanks are non-corrosive, quick to deploy & delivered flat packed to site. No Concrete Foundations required Perfect for high water tables or soft soil 15-Year Warranty | 25-Year Design Life Relocatable & fully recyclable • Storage options from 34m3 - 5.6Meg • Rafter roofs up to 500m3 • Trussed roof options to 1000m3 • Open Top / Floating cover option up to 5000m3 Enquire Now! 0800 255 222 info@kliptank.com View case studies on our Web page link: https://www.kliptank.com/resources/case-studies/ Irrigation Control System Proudly Supporting Environment Canterbury We provide fully automated Smart Irrigation System with frost protection mode. System takes weather data from Rain gauges, Temp. Sensors, soil sensors to determine the irrigation need of the landscape. Irrigation System maximize irrigation efficiency by reducing water waste, while maintaining plant health and quality. 021 131 4312 info@iacontrol.co.nz iacontrol.co.nz CONTACT US
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