The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Intervention groups plan early action on winter grazing issues

The Country
3 Jun, 2020 01:00 AM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

By restricting access using electric fences, farmers can make sure animals are getting the nutrition they need, and can pan out feed for the whole winter. Photo / Supplied

By restricting access using electric fences, farmers can make sure animals are getting the nutrition they need, and can pan out feed for the whole winter. Photo / Supplied

As the temperature gauge starts to drop, Federated Farmers and allied groups say they have an action plan in place to head off any issues with winter grazing.

"Winter crops are gradually being opened up to stock around the lower South Island and although the weather has been kind so far, we all know that winter will arrive before long," Federated Farmers President Katie Milne said.

Feds said rural people knew that a photograph taken of stock in a muddy paddock seldom told the full story in terms of what the farmer had in place to protect waterways from run-off and ensure good animal welfare.

"Nevertheless, these selective photographs can generate negative publicity and we want to make sure any concerns are proactively addressed, and that any farmer needing advice or support gets it early," Milne said.

Federated Farmers Southland Vice-President Bernadette Hunt said intervention groups were ready to go in her province.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"If someone raises a concern with winter grazing, a group comprising representatives from Federated Farmers, Dairy NZ and Beef and Lamb NZ will discuss the situation and ask the most appropriate person to contact the farmer, talk through the issues and, where necessary, identify strategies to mitigate problems".

"If the farmer is not willing to accept industry support or take action, environmental concerns will be passed on to the local regional council and animal welfare concerns to the Ministry for Primary Industries," Hunt said.

The vast majority of farmers really wanted to do the right thing, and often education or fresh ideas were all that was required, she said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"A supportive approach will be essential this year, with many farmers in the region already under significant pressure from poor growth conditions, flood impact and imposed overstocking due to the processing constraints of Covid-19."

The Southland/Otago intervention group was already meeting regularly, and groups will be stood up in other regions as required.

- Feds encouraged anyone concerned about winter crop grazing practices anywhere in the country, to fill in the online form on the Federated Farmers website (fedfarm.org.nz – search 'Winter grazing'), or call 0800 327 646.

Discover more

Comment: Tax policies deserve close focus as we head into election countdown

20 May 11:00 PM

Feds survey finds farmers feeling less pressure from banks

27 May 11:15 PM

What farmers think of Govt's freshwater reforms

28 May 01:15 AM

Good winter grazing practices urged as cold weather closes in

29 May 02:30 AM
Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

The Country

Storm leaves 13,000 without power in Tasman

11 Jul 08:18 AM
The Country

Go fishing with Scott Barrett and Kaiwaka Clothing

11 Jul 02:40 AM
The Country

The Country: Aaron Cruden on All Blacks v France second test

11 Jul 02:21 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

Storm leaves 13,000 without power in Tasman

Storm leaves 13,000 without power in Tasman

11 Jul 08:18 AM

High winds are ramping up.

Go fishing with Scott Barrett and Kaiwaka Clothing

Go fishing with Scott Barrett and Kaiwaka Clothing

11 Jul 02:40 AM
The Country: Aaron Cruden on All Blacks v France second test

The Country: Aaron Cruden on All Blacks v France second test

11 Jul 02:21 AM
Hamish McKay opens up about his dramatic 50kg weight loss

Hamish McKay opens up about his dramatic 50kg weight loss

11 Jul 01:29 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP