Dairying and Clean Streams Accord
Encyclopedia
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
between Fonterra
Fonterra
Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited is a New Zealand multinational dairy co-operative owned by almost 10,500 New Zealand farmers. The company is responsible for approximately 30% of the world's dairy exports and with revenue exceeding NZ$19.87 billion, is New Zealand's largest company.- History :In...
, Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (New Zealand)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is the state sector organisation of New Zealand which deals with matters relating to agriculture, forestry and biosecurity...
and regional councils. The Accord was prompted by the high profile "dirty dairying
Dirty dairying
Fish and Game started a high profile "dirty dairying" campaign to highlight the problems caused by intensification of dairy farming on the ecological health of New Zealand's freshwater environment...
" campaign by Fish and Game New Zealand
Fish and Game New Zealand
Fish and Game New Zealand is a statutory body set up to advocate for recreational hunting and fishing in New Zealand.It was set up under the Conservation Act 1987 with the statutory responsibility for the sports of freshwater sport fishing and gamebird hunting...
which highlighted water pollution of lakes, rivers and streams due to the intensification of dairy farming in parts of New Zealand.
Purpose
The purpose of the accord is to provide "a statement of intent and framework for actions to promote sustainable dairy farming in New Zealand. It focuses on reducing the impacts of dairying on the quality of New Zealand streams, rivers, lakes, ground water and wetlands." The goal is to ensure that water is suitable for fish, drinking by stock and swimming (in designated areas).The performance targets are:
- Dairy cattle excluded from 50% of streams, rivers and lakes by 2007, 90% by 2012
- 50% of regular crossing points have bridges or culverts by 2007, 90% by 2012
- 100% of farm dairy effluent discharges to comply with resource consents and regional plans immediately
- 100% of dairy farms to have in place systems to manage nutrient inputs and outputs by 2007
- 50% of regionally significant wetlands to be fenced by 2005, 90% by 2007
Progress
Progress reports on achieving the performance targets are prepared annually. The 2006-2007 report, released in February 2008, notes 83% compliance for the target of excluding cattle from waterways, 97% for bridging waterways, 93% for correct dairy farm effluent treatment and a 64-97% for preventing nutrient losses.A scientist at the University of Waikato
University of Waikato
The University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management...
described the 2006/2007 report as self-congratulatory and accused the Government of a lack of leadership.
Criticism
In December 2002, the farming lobby group, Federated FarmersFederated Farmers
Federated Farmers of New Zealand Incorporated is an organisation in New Zealand which lobbies on behalf of its member farmers.It has a network of 24 provinces and seven industry groups. Federated Farmers provides a locally based, democratic organisation that lobbies on farming issues both...
, initially opposed the accord since they considered that Fonterra was going beyond their brief and they had not consulted farmers. However, since then, the Dairy and Clean Stream Accord has become "the cornerstone of dairying's defences against accusations it's doing nothing to protect the environment".
In a report jointly released by Fish and Game New Zealand
Fish and Game New Zealand
Fish and Game New Zealand is a statutory body set up to advocate for recreational hunting and fishing in New Zealand.It was set up under the Conservation Act 1987 with the statutory responsibility for the sports of freshwater sport fishing and gamebird hunting...
and Forest and Bird
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc. is an environmental organisation specialising in conservation of indigenous plant and animal life in and around New Zealand....
the Accord is criticised for failing to improve water quality. The main reason given for this is that the Accord does not focus on measurable improvements in water quality. Other faults mentioned in the report are; a lack of independent auditing of the self-reporting by farmers, a failure to meet the principle targets, inconsistency in reporting progress, and the use of incorrect measures in the progress reports. A Federated Farmers review was critical of the report and claimed it was poorly constructed, was written as a campaign tool, made unfounded suppositions and contained "leaps in logic". The review, written by Federated Farmers including a staff member who has a diploma in communications and public relations, could be open to criticism.
The 2008/2009 report, released in March 2010, was criticised by Fonterra
Fonterra
Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited is a New Zealand multinational dairy co-operative owned by almost 10,500 New Zealand farmers. The company is responsible for approximately 30% of the world's dairy exports and with revenue exceeding NZ$19.87 billion, is New Zealand's largest company.- History :In...
, Federated Farmers
Federated Farmers
Federated Farmers of New Zealand Incorporated is an organisation in New Zealand which lobbies on behalf of its member farmers.It has a network of 24 provinces and seven industry groups. Federated Farmers provides a locally based, democratic organisation that lobbies on farming issues both...
and the Minister of Agriculture David Carter
David Carter (politician)
David Cunningham Carter is a New Zealand politician, currently a government cabinet minister. He is a member of the National Party.-Early life:...
saying the it revealed unacceptable levels of effluent management.
In June 2010, an editorial in the Dominion Post
The Dominion Post (Wellington)
The Dominion Post is a metropolitan broadsheet newspaper published in Wellington, New Zealand, owned by the Australian Fairfax group, owners of The Age, Melbourne, and The Sydney Morning Herald.- Foundation :...
argued that the self-regulated approach of the Clean Streams Accord was not working and that the Minister for the Environment Nick Smith must enact more effective measures such as rules, as there are some farmers who regard “environmental standards as an inconvenience in the pursuit of higher production and higher profits”.
See also
- Dairy farming in New ZealandDairy farming in New ZealandDairy farming in New Zealand began from small beginnings during the early days of colonisation by Europeans. The income from dairy farming is now a major part of the New Zealand economy, becoming an NZ$11 billion industry by 2010.-History:...
- Agriculture in New ZealandAgriculture in New ZealandAgriculture in New Zealand is the largest sector of the tradeable economy, contributing about two-thirds of exported goods in 2006-7. For the year ended March 2002, agricultural exports were valued at over $14.8 billion...
- Water pollution in New ZealandWater pollution in New ZealandWater pollution in New Zealand is an increasing concern for environmentalists and regulatory bodies. An increase in dairy farming in New Zealand is linked to an increase in water pollution, and siltation due to land clearance has affected lakes, rivers, caves and bays...
External links
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry - Dairying and Clean Streams Accord page
- The Clean Streams Accord page at Forest and Bird