Example Freshwater Farm Plan

The Waikato Region Council have completed a Freshwater Farm Plan to to give farmers and rural professionals a clear, practical example of how these farm plans work. This plan is for a dry stock farm in the Waipā area.

They created this example using QCONZ’s FWFP digital planning tool. The plan includes details about the local catchment, information about different areas of the property, environmental risk assessments, maps, and the actions planned.

Whether you’re preparing your own plan or helping others with theirs, this example should give you a good sense of what’s involved.

Click here to view the plan

Note: this plan is based on what the FWFP regulations were mid-2024. Any changes to the regulations will be reflected in future updates of the FWFP tool.

Freshwater Regulations Do Not Negatively Impact Farm Values

New research from Lincoln University provides reassurance for dairy farmers concerned about the impact of freshwater regulations. The study has found no significant negative effect on land values or farm profitability, contrary to early fears.

What the research found:

Farmers initially worried regulations would reduce farm productivity and land values
Research shows most farmers believe land values remained stable or improved
Complying with regulations improved farm efficiency while reducing nitrogen leaching
Environmental compliance is now considered a driver of farm value

Lead researcher and registered valuer Edward Percy says “We didn’t find any conclusive evidence that land values were significantly impacted by freshwater regulation. Rather, remaining compliant is a strong driver of value.”

The results suggest environmental regulations can coexist with profitable farming, with farmers becoming increasingly motivated to mitigate environmental impacts while maintaining productivity.

Read the full article here