On the farm
Principal land sustainability officer Karl Erikson
Many farmers will have started to turn their attention to next year’s winter crops. Environment Southland’s land sustainability team is always here to help with advice on your paddock selection, grazing strategies and farm plan preparation.
If you’re more of a do-it-yourself type, then the new Cultivation and Intensive Winter Grazing mapping tool will be a huge support to your planning and decision-making this year.
The online map allows you to draw the boundary of your paddock or farm from an aerial view. This will give you an ability to see the features of your farm, such as wetlands, rivers, drains and flood banks.
The map pulls in data from a range of areas to provide you with guidance on where best to place your winter grazing paddocks. You can use this information in your farm plan, or as part of a consent application.
The map links through to the regulatory requirements of intensive winter grazing, which help you identify whether a consent is needed, and takes you to the consent application.
These tools have been developed in response to farmers’ concerns around the accessibility and interpretation of information on farm. We hope that you find them handy and easy to use.
You’ll find the tools online at www.es.govt.nz/intensive-winter-grazing. If you’d like help navigating the map or online consent application form, please give one of the team a call on 0800 76 88 45.
You can read the full Envirosouth magazine as a PDF online here.
