Intensive winter grazing is a farming practice where large numbers of stock are confined over winter to small feeding areas planted with annual forage crops. If done poorly or too extensively it can result in serious negative effects on animal welfare and the environment.
Regulations to better control the impacts of intensive winter grazing were introduced in the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater 2020 (NES-F) as part of the Essential Freshwater reforms.
Regulations came into effect on 1 November 2022.
See the regulations [NZ Legislation website]
Intensive winter grazing is permitted if a farmer complies with default conditions set out in the NES-F, or
Intensive winter grazing is permitted if a farmer obtains a certified freshwater farm plan that achieves an equivalent (or better) outcome. The farm plan must demonstrate that any adverse effects in relation to the IWG are no greater than those allowed for by the default conditions. (Freshwater farm plans will start to be rolled out in some parts of the country from 2023.)
If Pathways 1 or 2 can not be met, a farmer needs to obtain a resource consent for intensive winter grazing activities.
In 2021, and in response to feedback about implementation issues, the Government deferred the commencement date of regulations and publicly consulted on changes to make them more practical to comply with the regulations – while still managing the effects of intensive winter grazing.
Having considered feedback, the Government amended intensive winter grazing regulations in the NES-F to address the implementation issues raised by other parties.
Slope is now defined as the maximum slope (i.e. the elevation difference across any 20 metre distance) for any area being used for intensive winter grazing. This replaces the definition of slope as ‘mean slope across a paddock’.
Land with a maximum slope of less than 10 degrees (as defined above) may be used for intensive winter grazing activities, subject to satisfying other conditions. Intensive winter grazing on land with a slope of more than 10 degrees will need either a resource consent or certified freshwater farm plan.
Default conditions around pugging have been replaced with a stand-alone duty to take all reasonably practicable steps to minimise the effects of pugging on freshwater.
The definition of drains has been amended to exclude subsurface drains in relation to intensive winter grazing. This means requirement to keep stock at least 5m away from waterways does not apply to subsurface drains.
Default conditions around resowing have been replaced with a stand-alone duty to establish vegetation as ground cover as soon as practicable after grazing.
A new default condition has been added around critical source areas. Anyone undertaking intensive winter grazing activities must protect critical source areas – these must be left ungrazed, have vegetation as ground cover, and they must not be cultivated in annual forage crop.
The factsheet provides an overview of freshwater regulations relevant to intensive winter grazing.
In November 2022, the Ministry for the Environment and Ministry for Primary Industries released the updated Intensive Winter Grazing Module to reflect amendments to the NES-F regulations and incorporate feedback received on the previous version.
The module is designed to assist farmers with IWG planning and includes a step-by-step template to fill out during this process.
Technical guidance is currently under development to assist in implementing the new standards for pugging and ground cover and the identification and management of critical source areas on farm. Publication is expected January 2023.
Contact your regional council to find out how these regulations apply in your region
Contact the Ministry for Primary Industries if you have an animal welfare enquiry or would like to report an animal welfare concern
Contact the Ministry team for any questions about the regulations.