The Otago Regional Council is encouraging farmers to apply for the intensive winter grazing areas they want to use in the years ahead as new regulations come into force.

New rules for intensive winter grazing were introduced as part of a wider Essential Freshwater package and the ORC is responsible for implementing them, ORC consents manager Joanna Gilroy said.

“We’re looking to do this in a way which is practical for farmers, but also recognises the environmental risks of some farming activities and encourages farmers to think about these risks,” she said.

Under the new rules, farmers will need an intensive winter grazing management plan as part of applying for a consent. The application for consent should cover multiple years, with any consents then granted for a specific duration.

“In most instances we are encouraging farmers to apply for consent for the next three to five years,” Joanna said. 

“Farmers will then need to update their management plan annually and tell us where they have grazed in the previous year, and where they plan to graze next season.”

While farmers need to apply for the paddocks they’re likely to graze over the next several years, actual paddock selection and the day to day operation of their property is still in the farmer’s control, Joanna said.

Farmers can still undertake the activity without consent if they can meet the permitted criteria in the regulations, she said.

ORC compliance manager Tami Sargeant says there will be some monitoring of farms.

“Once a consent has been issued, the compliance team will monitor the winter grazing practices to check that farmers are complying with any consent conditions,” she said.

If people are unsure if they need consent or not, they are encouraged to contact ORC’s consent enquiries team and the council’s catchment advisors are also available to provide good management practice-based advice.

“For farmers in Otago we’re happy to help explain the forms, come out on site and come to community sessions to help with the application process,” Joanna said. 

Find application documents here.

PHOTO: Supplied