![Powered by DairyNZ](https://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/infographics/2310/powered-by-dairy-nz.jpg)
What are farmers doing to improve our waterways?
![How a suffering estuary brought people together](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
How a suffering estuary brought people together
Opotiki farmers & wider community find pleasure in helping water quality.
![5,500 trees to help river flourish](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
5,500 trees to help river flourish
Dairy farmer's vision aims to restore important native bird and fish habitat.
![Seaweed for cows to combat global warming](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Seaweed for cows to combat global warming
New research into seaweed's potential to reduce methane emissions.
![River playground being tested](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
River playground being tested
Farmer testing of popular waterway's health could benefit water quality and a rare NZ duck
![Farmers need scientific data](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Farmers need scientific data
Unique 4-farm project uses science to improve greenhouse gas emissions and water quality.
![Dairy challenged to keep building momentum](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Dairy challenged to keep building momentum
James Shaw recognises dairy's good work - and says more to be done.
![The vision to improve New Zealand's waterways is getting clearer.](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
The vision to improve New Zealand's waterways is getting clearer.
To mark World Water Day, we check in on the progress of The Vision Is Clear...
![New farm research encouraging for climate](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
New farm research encouraging for climate
Dairy farming newcomers show how to reduce carbon emissions and maintain profits
![Love of the land is a Shaw thing](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Love of the land is a Shaw thing
Waikato farmers say farm environment plans are "a connection to the land"
![Waterways benefit from farmer's 'dream'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Waterways benefit from farmer's 'dream'
Freshwater health goes under microscope as hundreds of farmers adopt environment plans.
![Agri-business icon helping to change dairying](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Agri-business icon helping to change dairying
Project to reduce nitrate run-off from farms attracts critical corporate clout.
![When a farm becomes a school](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
When a farm becomes a school
Prize-winning dairy farm doubles as environmental "classroom".
![$3m to save a river](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
$3m to save a river
'Daunting' planting project will bolster farmer group's environmental work along river.
![Wetland really rings a bell for dairy farmer](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Wetland really rings a bell for dairy farmer
"Time to give something back" sees Grant Bell build 4ha wetland.
![Farmers have 'good' water problem](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Farmers have 'good' water problem
They have few water quality issues –but pro-active farmers want to keep it that way.
See how you can help
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!["Porridge" can also help water quality](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
"Porridge" can also help water quality
Oats - base of many a breakfast dish - also reduces nitrate leaching on farms.
![370,000 ways to look after land](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
370,000 ways to look after land
Water quality is a focus of far-reaching dairy farm environmental plan.
![How to marry green farming & business success](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
How to marry green farming & business success
Dairy farmer discovers big benefits in environmental care.
![Bringing the city to the farm](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Bringing the city to the farm
As he focuses on environmental good practice, dairy farmer has another idea for his...
!["Championing" shows the way](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
"Championing" shows the way
900-cow dairy farm shows how water quality, wetlands & technology make a difference.
![Farm changes help environment](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Farm changes help environment
Project involving Canterbury dairy farmers shows the way forward to protect water quality.
![Wetland aims for water quality rise](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Wetland aims for water quality rise
Taranaki farmers develop passion for sustainable farming with new wetland.
![Creative thinking beats water issue](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Creative thinking beats water issue
Ōtorohanga farmers find clever way to solve a water and effluent problem.
![Farmer who runs 'with nature'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Farmer who runs 'with nature'
Whitebait are back in numbers and at-risk coastal birds are returning at the bottom of...
![From city girl to gumboots](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
From city girl to gumboots
City girl becomes 'Gumboot Girl' and helps introduce sustainable practices on Northland...
![Planting trees "an addiction"](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Planting trees "an addiction"
Taranaki farm has a lake, boardwalk, growing bird and invertebrate life.
![Walking the talk](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Walking the talk
Restoring farm wetlands not only protects rivers, it brings back wildlife.
![City slickers turned farmers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
City slickers turned farmers
Rookies they might be but two female dairy farmers find success through environmental care
![Farm 'train' could clean rivers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Farm 'train' could clean rivers
Artificial wetland created on a Waikato dairy farm may be an answer to nitrate run-off...
![Farmers: "cool" not to be unique](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Farmers: "cool" not to be unique
When they started farm environmental improvements, couple were unique - but not any more.
!['Vulnerable' bird numbers rise](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
'Vulnerable' bird numbers rise
Water quality work by dairy farming couple does more than help clean wetlands.
![Winds of change blow strong](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Winds of change blow strong
Farm wetland restoration and environmental thinking taken up by second generation.
![Spending $2.8m on environment](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Spending $2.8m on environment
Waikato family have really put their money where their mouth is on sustainable farming.
![Restoring our native trees](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Restoring our native trees
Dairy farmers helping turn around depleted native plants scenario with other landowners.
![Is this the way of future farming?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Is this the way of future farming?
Award-winning organic & legacy farmers nurture the environment as well as cows.
![River clean-up energises farmer](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
River clean-up energises farmer
Invests $18,000 of his own money to help restore river after realising the impact on...
![Cleaner habitat for river fish](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Cleaner habitat for river fish
Farmer group is making progress in project to reduce run-off into South Island waterways.
![Clean-up for popular river spot](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Clean-up for popular river spot
Project aiming to restore the health of an iconic Gisborne river has farmers doing...
![Five years of effort by farmers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Five years of effort by farmers
Dairy farmers have, to help water quality, fenced off 24,000km of waterways from cattle.
![Sustainability sparks new role](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Sustainability sparks new role
Major dairy group puts spotlight on environment with new management position.
![Farm has traffic lights for poo](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Farm has traffic lights for poo
Otago farmer invents novel system to help improve environmental practices.
![NZ losing 190m tonnes of soil](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
NZ losing 190m tonnes of soil
Every year erosion washes sediment into waterways - but new move aims to improve water...
![Fish returning to 'lost' river](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Fish returning to 'lost' river
Farmer-led community effort leads to big improvement in health of high value river.
![Reversing 150yrs of lost wetlands](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Reversing 150yrs of lost wetlands
Restored wetland in the Waikato shows how farmers can hugely improve water quality.
![Five million plants later…](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Five million plants later…
Taranaki farmers helping to achieve better water quality with huge planting programme.
![Farmers acting to help Hauraki Gulf](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Farmers acting to help Hauraki Gulf
Hundreds of dairy farms are striving to improve water quality around the gulf.
![Tree-mendous planting success](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Tree-mendous planting success
To mark NZ Arbor Day & World Environment Day, we talk to farmers rewarded by planting...
![Catchment group leads the way](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Catchment group leads the way
Farmers form environmental best practice group round Rangitikei River.
![How to keep a river swimmable](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
How to keep a river swimmable
Dairy farmer puts time & effort into ensuring his kids swim in the same river he did...
![600 farmers in big water project](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
600 farmers in big water project
Large-scale initiative in Southland expected to have big effect on water quality.
![Careys show how to care for water](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Careys show how to care for water
Waikato farming family perfect example of restoring waterways to health.
![Estuary 'riddled' with whitebait](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Estuary 'riddled' with whitebait
Kaipara dairy farmer reaps the reward for environmentally sustainable farming methods.
![Wetlands act as NZ's "kidneys"](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Wetlands act as NZ's "kidneys"
Key to improving water quality is increasing NZ's wetlands...
![Breeding cattle with better urine](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
Breeding cattle with better urine
$21m project is genetically selecting cows to reduce nitrogen leaching in NZ.
![US 'experiment' for NZ](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=785)
US 'experiment' for NZ
A ground-breaking flood control system could also help improve NZ's rivers and streams.