"Every plan needs to reflect the unique environment of a property, and its impacts beyond the farm or orchard gate."
– Zespri Extension Manager Christina Robinson
Zespri International Limited is piloting a new digital tool to help New Zealand kiwifruit growers develop their freshwater farm plans and is holding workshops to step growers through the process.
The application is the first of its kind for the sector and the first to specifically step landowners and land managers through the freshwater farm plan development process.
Kiwifruit growers using clarity tubes to measure water quality - gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of freshwater farm plans.
Freshwater farm plans are part of the former Government’s Essential Freshwater policies and regulations, which are intended to bring our waterways to a healthy state within a generation.
Waikato and Southland are the first regions where these regulations have been activated. Farmers and growers with horticultural land greater than 5 hectares, or pastoral, arable or any combination of these land uses greater than 20 hectares, are required to have a freshwater farm plan to manage and reduce their impacts on fresh water.
Zespri Extension Manager Christina Robinson said being first off the block could be daunting for farmers and growers, so it was running the pilot scheme to make sure kiwifruit growers felt supported through the process.
"There is no one-size-fits-all approach with a freshwater farm plan," said Christina. “Every plan needs to reflect the unique environment of a property, and its impacts beyond the farm or orchard gate.
"We’re fortunate, living in New Zealand. The land provides for our livelihoods and wellbeing. The water gives us wonderful opportunities for fishing, swimming and simply enjoying the view. Sustainability is a major focus for us at Zespri and supporting our growers to look after water quality is really important to us."
"Our new tool will help growers create practical and meaningful plans for their property and that are consistent with the required regulations."
Waikato Regional Council Primary Sector Engagement specialist Chris Howell points out potential risk areas and explains how mitigations might be captured in a freshwater farm plan.
With support from Waikato Regional Council’s Primary Sector Engagement team, Zespri recently held its first workshop for its growers at Kārapiro kiwifruit orchard Lakeview, which is owned by Whitehall Fruitpackers.
The workshop, which included a tour of the orchard, stepped growers through the freshwater farm planning requirements, such as identifying different land units, risks and mitigations.
"A key part of the workshops is about getting growers together out at orchards like Lakeview to help make the new requirements really tangible for them," said Christina.
Waikato Regional Council primary sector engagement specialist Bob Rigter spoke to the growers about the negative impacts of sediment, nitrogen, phosphorus and E.coli on freshwater habitats.
"Nitrogen, from fertilisers, and sediment will be the most common issues for kiwifruit orchards," said Bob.
"But it really is catchment dependent. LAWA data from a sampling station down stream of Lake Karāpiro shows nitrogen and phosphorus levels are key issues for this area."
Waikato Regional Council primary sector engagement specialist Chris Howell explained how it was important for landowners to understand how and where water flowed on their property, particularly during high-rainfall events, and to have a good plan for fertiliser application to minimise the risk of valuable nutrients being lost.
He reassured the group that a lot about freshwater farm planning was just "common sense".
A consented water storage pond for irrigation and frost protection.
"You'll find you’re already doing many of these things and that some of the farm plan actions you come up with will be jobs you planned to tick off anyway."
Whitehall Compliance Manager, Katie McQuade, who’s developing the freshwater farm plan for the 17-hectare, neatly cultivated and certified-organic kiwi fruit orchard, explained how the catchment context, challenges and values around Lake Karāpiro would need to be taken into account.
"The lake is used for rowing, swimming and gathering mahinga kai. We also know, from LAWA river quality data, that phosphorus and nitrogen levels are high. This information really forms the lens through which we view our risk assessment, and it affects how we might prioritise different mitigations in the orchard."
Growers appreciated the opportunity to see how freshwater farm plans would need to reflect different land types, uses, and features in the orchard, and commented that the session had "really made it relevant".
Summing up the event, Chris Howell said: "It’s great to have opportunities like this to help farmers and growers get to grips with the new requirements, and we’ll continue to work with the farming and growing sectors, Ministry for the Environment, our iwi partners, and other key stakeholders to support the transition to the new system."