National-scale implementation of mandatory freshwater farm plans: a mechanism to deliver water quality improvement in productive catchments in New Zealand?

Macintosh, Katrina A.; McDowell, R. W.; Wright‐Stow, Aslan E.; Depree, Craig V.; Robinson, Guy M.

doi:10.1007/s10705-021-10146-5

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Thus, different countries have used a mix of policy instruments to manage environmental challenges, including the fresh water resource [9]. Weersink [10] reported three key policy instruments: (1) moral suasion, (2) regulation, and (3) an economic approach.…”

Section: Policy Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drone Use in On-Farm Environmental Compliance: An Investigation of Regulators’ Perspectives

2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Freshwater resources around the world are under increasing pressure from agricultural activities. As a result, regulatory frameworks around on-farm environmental compliance have become more complex. Consequently, farm plans which have been used in New Zealand to identify risks to and develop mitigation strategies for freshwater quality can be time consuming and costly to develop and monitor. Using semi-structured interviews, this study investigated the views of the regulators working in environmental policy and implementation on the use of drones to increase the efficiency of on-farm environmental compliance. Results show that drones can improve process robustness by providing an aerial view, and that they are quicker and safer to use on steeper contoured farms. However, there is confusion around the permissions required in order to capture footage, its ownership and storage, and who has access rights to the footage. This ambiguity in the implementation of environmental regulations can lead to uncertainty on the part of policy implementors around how to integrate drones in on-farm environmental compliance. In addition, positive relationships between farmers and compliance officers are needed in order for the benefits of drone use to be realised for on-farm environmental compliance purposes.

show abstract

Section: Policy Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drone Use in On-Farm Environmental Compliance: An Investigation of Regulators’ Perspectives

2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Internationally, farm planning schemes are an acknowledged approach for achieving environmental objectives while also boosting engagement with farmers, but the voluntary nature of these schemes has often limited their uptake and consequent impact (Macintosh et al, 2021). The New Zealand government has now legislated mandatory freshwater farm plans (FWFPs) for farms over a certain size (Resource Management [Freshwater Farm Plans] Regulations, 2023), as part of the freshwater package to prevent further degradation of freshwater resources and improve water quality within five years (Ministry for the Environment, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of on-site sketching and ArcGIS mapping in producing riparian and wetland restoration plans

Hodgson,

Marapara

2023

SITJAR

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This research explores how to produce effective riparian and wetland restoration plans. It considers design and visual communication in seeking to produce plans that are environmentally effective and easy to understand. Through an in depth understanding of the literature and current best practice, a potential design strategy was unveiled. This led to the discovery of how design initiatives should move beyond uniform riparian buffer zones to also consider critical source areas, concentrated flow paths and convergence zones. These ideas were explored through the production of riparian and wetland restoration plans for farmers at three different sites in Southland. Two distinct methodologies were used to produce riparian and wetland restoration plans: on-site sketching in collaboration with farmers to produce plans in Adobe Illustrator, and the use of ESRI ArcGIS employing a range of geographic factors that can help target key areas for riparian and wetland restoration. Strengths and weaknesses of each approach were established during the production of these plans. These were further verified in the form of ground truthing and interviews with the farmers. Each method had positives and negatives, from software cost and data resolution to the level of detail in each plan. It is recommended that a more integrated approach using the strengths of each method to inform each other is the optimum way forward to producing more effective riparian and wetland restoration plans.

show abstract

“…However, irrigation and other practices associated with intensification, such as cultivation, grazing, and nutrient inputs, can increase nutrient losses, and affect soil carbon, nutrient cycling, and soil health indicators (Drewry et al 2021b(Drewry et al , 2022aLambie et al 2021;Mayel et al 2021;Monaghan et al 2021;Eger et al 2023). Efforts to reduce diffuse nutrient losses from agriculture through improved farm practices, regulation, or catchment management is challenging and ongoing (Lynam et al 2010;Snelder et al 2020;Srinivasan et al 2020;Grizzetti et al 2021;Macintosh et al 2021;McDowell et al 2021). Cropping patterns and crop types, fertilisation rates, and irrigation efficiency contribute to a range of nitrate losses under irrigation (Barros et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen and phosphorus leaching losses under cropping and zone-specific variable-rate irrigation

Drewry,

Hedley,

McNeill

et al. 2023

Soil Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Context Agricultural land use is intensifying globally. Irrigation and other farm practices associated with intensification, such as cultivation, grazing, and fertiliser application, can increase nutrient losses. Variable rate irrigation (VRI) systems manage irrigation to spatially variable soils and different crops (zones). We lack knowledge on nutrient losses under zone-specific irrigation for mixed-cropping systems (combined crop and livestock grazing). Aims This study evaluated drainage, nitrogen, and phosphorus leaching losses under zone-specific irrigation for a temperate mixed-cropping system. Methods The study site had sheep grazing and crops including peas, beans, wheat, turnips, plantain, and ryegrass-white clover pasture. It had a variable-rate centre-pivot irrigator for two soil zones (free draining Zone 1; poorly drained Zone 2). Drainage flux meters (DFMs) collected drainage leachate, and samples for measurement of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations. Soil water balance data and statistical modelling evaluated nutrient leaching losses over 5 years. Key results The mean leaching load of NOx-N (nitrate + nitrite) across 5 years was 133 (s.d. 77) and 121 (s.d. 97) kg N/ha/year for Zone 1 and Zone 2, respectively. Similarly, the mean leaching load of reactive P across all years was 0.17 (s.d. 0.30) and 0.14 (s.d. 0.14) kg P/ha/year for Zone 1 and Zone 2, respectively. The nitrogen concentrations and loads generally had greater uncertainty in Zone 2. Conclusions The DFMs worked well for the free draining sandy soil. However, fewer samples were collected in the silt soil, requiring the statistical modelling developed in this study. This study gave a reasonable estimate of annual leaching load means, but the indicators of their within-year variation were not reliable, partly due to differences in sampling frequency. With some exceptions, there was generally more NOx-N leaching from the free draining Zone 1. VRI provided a system to control irrigation-related drainage and leaching in these soil zones. Implications Drainage flux meters are more reliable in well-drained than in poorly drained soil. Given the lack of published studies, this study has improved knowledge of nutrient losses under zone-specific irrigated mixed-cropping systems in a temperate climate.

show abstract

National-scale implementation of mandatory freshwater farm plans: a mechanism to deliver water quality improvement in productive catchments in New Zealand?

Cited by 8 publications

References 31 publications

Drone Use in On-Farm Environmental Compliance: An Investigation of Regulators’ Perspectives

Drone Use in On-Farm Environmental Compliance: An Investigation of Regulators’ Perspectives

Effectiveness of on-site sketching and ArcGIS mapping in producing riparian and wetland restoration plans

Nitrogen and phosphorus leaching losses under cropping and zone-specific variable-rate irrigation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About