Federated Farmers' Hawke's Bay policy team has successfully appealed parts of the Hastings District Plan to help farmers tackle the burden of increasing compliance obligations.
The areas under scrutiny were those considered Outstanding Natural Landscapes, with the proposals considered too obscure and restrictive for farmers.
Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay president Will Foley said the policies now recognised that farming was positive for significant amenity landscapes.
"It means essentially farmers can now carry out tree planting for soil conservation in Outstanding Natural Landscapes, when previously they needed resource consent because the council feared it would affect the landscape," Mr Foley said.
A call to increase earthworks limits for farms categorised with Outstanding Natural Landscapes was also achieved. Farmers were now permitted an extra 500m3 to maintain tracks, and were granted 200m2 for new earthworks.