Synthetic nitrogen fertiliser cap

If you are a dairy farmer you can submit information on your synthetic-nitrogen fertiliser use to your regional council using this webform [Te Uru Kahika website]

Note: You do not need to fill out the webform if you have arranged for your fertiliser provider to submit your synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use on your behalf.

The cap applies to all grazed land (including grass and annual forage crop) except for the grazing of livestock on the stubble of arable crops, with the following conditions.    

• Each hectare of grass pasture has a limit of 190 kg/ha/yr – no area of pasture can exceed this level without a resource consent.  
• On land planted with fodder crops, the limit of 190 kg/ha/yr may be exceeded to meet the needs of some types of plants, but the average across the pastoral system must not exceed 190.  

Affected farm managers need to record or retain from 1 July2021, the following.  

• The area of land in pastoral land use, including the parts of that land used to grow annual forage crops, and in other uses.
• The receipts of purchased synthetic nitrogen fertiliser.
• The types of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser applied and, for each type, the percentage of the nitrogen component by dry weight.
• The rate at which each type of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser was applied to the land in pastoral land use and, within that land, to the land used to grow annual forage crops and to other land.
• The dates on which the synthetic nitrogen fertiliser was applied. 

All dairy farm managers must supply a report to their regional council covering their synthetic nitrogen use for the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. Contact your regional council on how to report your synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use.