Controversial land use plan gaining traction

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy (left) sees the Sustainable Land Use Initiative in use on the Dougal McIntosh property. PHOTO/ FILE

After 10 years' operation and a dollop of doubt and controversy Horizons Regional Council's anti-erosion initiative gets an overall thumbs-up from farmers, a report has found.

The Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) started in reaction to the disastrous Whanganui-Manawatu floods of 2004. By 2016 it had been in operation for 10 years and AgResearch was asked to review its effectiveness.

In it landowners can ask to have plans made of their farms. The plans outline ways they can reduce erosion while maintaining production. Often that is by making better use of their best land, and retiring poor land to trees.

The intention is to make future floods less devastating and keep sediment out of rivers, improving water quality and reducing damage.

During most of the 10 years the initiative has been funded one third by government, one third by Horizons and one third by landowners.

AgResearch interviewed 70 randomly selected farmers for the report on it. Some of the farmers had farm plans, and some didn't.

Farmers and rural communities broadly believed the initiative was making them more resilient against future weather events, lead researcher Dr Willie Smith said.

Farmers with plans said funding and advice from Horizons helped them make environmental gains more quickly. The plans also helped them identify key issues, such as the effective use of fertiliser.

None of them experienced a loss of production.

Those without plans said the plans were too complex and bureaucratic, but 75 per cent of them said they could be persuaded to have one.

Some said the plans trampled on private property rights.

Much more controversial were the nutrient management plans for dairy farms required under the One Plan. But most of the dairy farmers interviewed accept them now, Dr Smith said.

Even those opposed could see some benefits when the plans were explained to them.

Attitudes might change in a time with higher milk prices, Dr Smith said, and the farmers involved said they wanted the profitability of their businesses considered.

THE SUSTAINABLE LAND USE INITIATIVE
+ started 2005-06 season
+ 634 Whole Farm Plans done
+ 475,000ha mapped
+ A predicted 27 per cent less sediment in rivers by 2043
+ 13,000,000 trees planted
+ 570,000m of waterway fenced