Farm Environment Plan for Willowburn Station

Transcription

1 Farm Environment Plan for Willowburn Station Property name Willowburn Station/W H McAughtrie Farm Ltd Owner name Dannie McAughtrie Phone no Postal address C/- PO Box 200, Omarama Post code mcaughtrie@farmside.co.nz Mobile no Sharemilker/Manager name Postal address Phone no Mobile no Post code Plan Implementer name Certificate of Title and Legal Description Property area (ha) Phone no , Section 13 Block XII and Section 6 Block XVI Benmore Survey District and Section 2 Survey Office Plan Irrigation type Pivot Water irrigation (ha) Benmore Effluent irrigation type Pivot Effluent irrigation (ha) Effluent storage Less 5 days Borderdyke K-line 5-15 days Effective area (ha) ha own K-line consent Travelling irrigator days Gun Sprinkler 2 months Rotorainer Other 3 months Irrigation area (ha) Benmore Irrigation Ltd Water Sprinkler Other Irrigation area (ha) 85ha & 87ha Other Water Total irrigation (ha) Enterprise type Sheep, beef and deer Number of staff (labour units to operate property) Cropping Total area cropped Typical cropping rotation Y/N Comments: 185.2ha of existing irrigation as at August ha BIC, 20ha own consent. 85ha Wairepo consent renewal (with 20ha of this already existing). 87ha of spray irrigation proposed at the Quailburn Road block. Proposed 337.2ha irrigation

2 Dairy Peak. cows milked No cows wintered off farm No. R2 heifers Grazed on farm? Yes/No No. R1 heifers Grazed on farm? Yes/No Other Resource Consents CRC Discharge water into water water pure CRC CRC CRC CRC CRC Take Surface water Discharge contaminants into land to water human effluent Discharge water into water water -pure (joint with NZ Pastures Ltd and Ellis-Lea Farms (2000) Ltd) Take surface water (joint with NZ Pastures Ltd and Ellis-Lea Farms (2000) Ltd) Install structure in bed intake/outlet structure (joint with NZ Pastures Ltd and Ellis-Lea Farms (2000) Ltd) OVERSEER Modelling v6.2.2 Oct 2016 Baseline Proposed with BIC expansion N lost to water kg/ha/yr 8 9 Total N lost kg/farm 17,057 19,146 P lost to water kg/ha/yr Total P lost kg/farm

3 Our Environmental Commitment As owners of Willowburn we are committed to supporting the growth and development of New Zealand s farming industry and its markets throughout the world. We strongly believe that for a sustainable long term industry to exist it is imperative to protect and enhance the environment through modifying farm management practices. As water users in the Benmore Irrigation Ltd we are committed to meeting all scheme environmental requirements, and as a business we are committed to ensuring that all activities undertaken on our property are undertaken in an environmentally sustainable manner. In addition, we are committed to not only managing the impacts of our farming activities but also improving the environment so that the property is in a good condition for future generations. We will monitor our performance against our environmental objectives and targets and take appropriate action where necessary to address those areas where an improvement in performance is required. Signature (Owner) Date: / /

4 Land Management Units We recognise that understanding differences in the way parts of our property respond to different management practices is an important step in achieving our production goals, as well as recognising and understanding the environmental risks associated with these practices. A land management unit is a homogeneous block of land that responds in a similar way under similar management Land Management Unit A: Irrigated pasture Description: irrigated flat land Strengths Weaknesses Environmental risks Area (ha) Soil type Sedimentary Irrigated pasture Flat land Proximity to waterways Current use Irrigated sheep, beef and deer grazing Total farm N & P leaching limit as part of the consent. Irrigation Pivot Gun Roto Kline BD Sprink Other None Contour Flat Rolling Mod steep Steep V Steep Soil WHC Drainage XL L M MH H Impeded Free draining Land Management Unit B: Improved dry land Description: Improved dry land Strengths Weaknesses Environmental risks Area (ha) 687ha Mixed stock type Dryland Wind erosion Soil type Current use Sedimentary Sheep, beef and deer Total farm N & P leaching limit as part of the consent

5 Irrigation Pivot Gun Roto Kline BD Sprink Other None Contour Flat Rolling Mod steep Steep V Steep Soil WHC Drainage XL L M MH H Impeded Free draining Land Management Unit C: Improved Hill country Description: Easy hill country with minimal fertilizer inputs Strengths Weaknesses Environmental risks Area (ha) 872ha Low stocking rate Dryland Wind erosion Soil type Current use Sedimentary Grazing sheep and beef Total farm N & P leaching limit as part of the consent Sediment removal in high intensity rainfall events due to dryland and topography Irrigation Pivot Gun Roto Kline BD Sprink Other None Contour Flat Rolling Mod steep Steep V Steep Soil WHC Drainage XL L M MH H Impeded Free draining

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7 Land Management Unit D: Native Description: steep hill country Strengths Weaknesses Environmental risks Area (ha) 282 Low stocking rate Topography P runoff Soil type Sedimentary Current use Predominantly sheep grazing with some beef Little or no fertilizer inputs Total farm N & P leaching limit as part of the renewal consent Sediment removal in high intensity rainfall events due to dryland and topography Irrigation Pivot Gun Roto Kline BD Sprink Other None Contour Flat Rolling Mod steep Steep V Steep Soil WHC Drainage XL L M MH H Impeded Free draining

8 BIC supplied water for irrigation

9 Irrigation Management Irrigation management objective: The irrigation system is capable of applying water efficiently, and is managed so that actual use is efficient. Irrigation management targets: Maximum of 33 million L used for season Scheme objectives Scheme targets Farm policies and best management practices Additional actions required to achieve best practices Objective 1: All new irrigation systems to be All irrigation systems utilizing BIC water are existing To ensure that all new designed and installed to irrigation systems are Irrigation Code of Practice and Any new irrigation systems installed using BIC water will be capable of meeting Design Standards (March 2007 installed and designed to meet all BIC standards. industry & scheme Irrigation NZ). standards for best practice irrigation Design information must include, where relevant: Location and possible effects of water bodies Design features to mitigate possible effects Location of riparian and wetland buffers, stock crossings, fencing and planting Location of any significant wetlands How effluent irrigation is taken account of in the design Date to complete Design to be checked and approved by person approved by BIC Commissioning report carried out by a certified Irrigation Evaluator to demonstrate that systems to operate as designed Objective 2: To implement a Regular evaluation of irrigation system performance undertaken No irrigation evaluation has been completed on the irrigation system Irrig8 quick (bucket test) at start of each irrigation season. At start of each season

10 robust system for irrigation performance assessment and equipment and machinery maintenance by irrigator or by accredited evaluator Systems maintained to meet industry and scheme standards for best practice irrigation for that irrigation type Regular maintenance is undertaken on the centre pivot irrigators Irrigation evaluation to be completed as per requirements from BIC ASAP Objective 3: To maximise water application effectiveness while minimising excess drainage and runoff. Apply correct amounts of water for plant growth requirements, specific soil properties and slope. Demonstrate irrigation scheduling procedures to ensure volumes applied do not exceed that required for soil to reach field capacity No irrigation scheduling or soil moisture monitoring is undertaken Turn off during rain greater than 10 mm. Done by eye (e.g. observed ponding). Centre pivot irrigation used with BIC water, low application rate. Implement a soil moisture monitoring program to ensure that water volumes applied do not exceed that required for soil to reach field capacity. ASAP Close adherence to listed best management practices. Significant variations, reasons and actions noted. Objective 4: The manager to ensure all key staff members are fully trained in the operation and maintenance of those aspects of the irrigation system for which they are responsible. All key staff fully trained. No full time staff at present

11 Records to be kept to demonstrate how the policies and practices are achieving the objectives and targets Irrigation certificate and specifications to show installed to industry Code of Practice and Design Standards. Annual bucket test results. Monthly farm compliance checklist (to show nozzle and equipment checks). Annual assessment report of pumps and equipment. Irrigation maintenance and service records. Sight pivot ruts. Farm protocol and training manual. Irrigation scheduling/monitoring protocol and associated records (soil moisture testing, irrigation scheduling, pivot hours, application rates).

12 Nutrient management and soil health Nutrient management objective: To maximise nutrient use efficiency while minimising nutrient losses in order to meet specified nutrient discharge allowances. Soil management objective: To maintain or improve the physical and biological condition of the soils in order to minimise that movement of sediment, phosphorus and other contaminants to waterways. Nutrient management targets: N loss, P loss, N conversion efficiency, in top quartile of group benchmark performance (Dairy NZ nutrient use efficiency, N loss, and P loss benchmarks for Canterbury region) Scheme objectives Scheme targets Farm policies and best management practices Additional actions required to achieve best practices Objective 1: Programme in place to meet Nutrient Budget completed for BIC consent process. To use nutrient budgeting nutrient management and nutrient management targets NB updated annually and provided to BIC for reporting and planning to minimise auditing purposes nutrient losses to surface and ground water Existing and proposed Overseer scenarios completed for the proposed BIC expansion. Date to complete Overseer files will be updated when new versions of Overseer are released to update NDA s. Objective 2: Adopt strategies to minimize sediment and nutrient loss to waterways (Critical nutrient source areas) (CNSA) CNSA identified and management plan for these areas prepared. Willowburn Swamp is a critical nutrient end point Complete a farm map that shows all of the LWRP Schedule 7 requirements: Property boundary Land management units Location of streams/creeks, ponds and wetlands Location of offal pits, silage pits, rubbish holes, fuel storage locations, tracks that cross waterways Location of any areas that are identified in a District Plan as significant indigenous ASAP

13 biodiversity Objective 3: To apply fertiliser only where needed to maximise impact and minimise losses to non-target areas. Close adherence to listed best management practices. Significant variations, reasons and actions noted. Nutrient Budget completed. Application rates of N fertiliser limited to 50kg N application Limited use of Nitrogen based Fertiliser Olsen P average soil test results to be under 30 Records to be kept as required by consent and BIC Ongoing Objective 4: To maintain or improve the physical and biological condition of soils Programme in place to monitor physical and biological condition of soils. Adherence to best management practices to improve soil health. Annual Compaction and runoff survey on the irrigated land Records to be kept to demonstrate how the policies and practices are achieving the objectives and targets Overseer nutrient budget, soil test results and recommended fertiliser programme prepared by suitably qualified person. Nutrient management plan. Fertiliser proof of placement maps. Record of contractors Spreadmark accreditation. Annual Visual Soil Assessment records and action plan (could be part of Nutrient Management Plan). Annual nutrient compliance report. Critical Nutrient Source Area map.

14 Critical nutrient end point Located at the most downstream point on the property, near the Ahuriri River. Canterbury Regional wetland purple hatched area. This ECAN classified wetland is a collection point for nutrients from all properties within the Willowburn Stream catchment

15 Waterways, wetland, Livestock and biodiversity management Waterways, wetland and biodiversity management objective: To manage wetland and waterway margins to avoid stock damage and direct nutrient inputs, and maximise riparian margin nutrient filtering. Livestock management objective: To manage wetlans and water bodies so that stock are excluded as far as practicable from water, to avoid damage to the bed and margins of a water body, and to avoid the direct input of nutrients, sediment, and microbial pathogens. Waterways, wetland and biodiversity management targets: Stock excluded from all waterways, maximum use made of riparian filtering Scheme objectives Scheme targets Farm policies and best management practices Additional actions required to achieve best practices Objective 1: 100% cattle, deer and pigs All waterways within the BIC irrigation areas are fenced to Detail any additional areas where To minimise adverse exclusion from waterways. exclude cattle. fencing and/or planting are proposed effects of farm activities or required under the Proposed Land stock on waterways by A 4.7ha area of wetland dominated by carrex is to be and Water Regional Plan excluding stock from fenced to exclude stock once conditions allow. waterways and managing riparian areas Riparian margins of sufficient width to provide effective filter zone to minimise soil loss and contamination of waterways Culverts have been installed throughout the Willowburn Swamp for vehicle and stock access. All waterways/wetlands located within or adjacent to irrigated land and break fed winter crops must be fenced to exclude cattle. Date to complete As per BIC and consent requirements Objective 2: To protect significant natural wetlands and other high value biodiversity sites. Areas for riparian planting identified and planting programme in place. Significant natural wetlands and other high value biodiversity areas identified and management plan in place. Nutrient Budget completed Water quality testing as completed by BIC Fencing as required by LWRP Prepare a management plan to protect the wetlands identified in the ECAN generated map above Records to be kept to demonstrate how the policies and practices are achieving the objectives and targets Maps. Planting plan. Visual inspection of riparian margins, planting and stock exclusion. Record of amount of fencing and planting baseline and annual changes

16 Point Source Discharge Point source discharges management objective: To manage the risks associated with the location of point source discharges. Point source discharges management targets: Compliant 365 days of year Scheme objectives Scheme targets Farm policies and best management practices Additional actions required to achieve best practices Objective 1: To ensure that all point Offal hole location are selected to be away from waterways To ensure that all point source discharge meet plan and flow paths. There is one hole on farm. source discharge meet plan requirements to minimise Baleage is used, fully wrapped requirements risk association with the location Date to complete Summary of Risks to water quality Topography/Location/Climate Soils Fertilizer/Nutrient Irrigation Waterways/Livestock A combination of flat, rolling and hill country. Low rainfall climate characterized by snow in the winter, heat in the summer, dominant NW wind and high rates of evapotranspiration in the summer. A combination of shallow and heavy PAW soils Low rates of fertilizer used on farm due to the extensive nature of most the country All spray irrigation Willowburn swamp is located on the SE boundary. Has been identified by the Zone Committee as an area requiring improvement. An action point identifies that an area will be fenced off to exclude stock. Summary of Actions required and timeframe for completion FEP Element Action Timeframe Irrigation Management Irrigation evaluation to be completed as per As per consent requirements from BIC requirements Implement a soil moisture monitoring program to ensure that water volumes applied do not exceed that required for soil to reach field capacity.

17 Nutrient and Soil Management Waterways/Livestock Management Complete a farm map that shows all the LWRP Schedule 7 requirements: Property boundary Land management units Location of streams/creeks, ponds and wetlands Location of offal pits, silage pits, rubbish holes, fuel storage locations, tracks that cross waterways Location of any areas that are identified in a District Plan as significant indigenous biodiversity Records to be kept as required by consent and BIC Detail any additional areas where fencing and/or planting are proposed or required under the Proposed Land and Water Regional Plan All waterways/wetlands located within or adjacent to irrigated land and break fed winter crops must be fenced to exclude cattle. Prepare a management plan to protect the wetlands identified in the ECAN generated map above Before 1 st Audit Ongoing Before 1 st audit FARM ENVIROMENT PLAN AUDIT REQUIREMENTS 1. The Farm Environment Plan must be audited by a Farm Environment Plan Auditor who is independent of the farm being audited (i.e. not a professional advisor for the property) and has not been involved in the preparation of the Farm Environment Plan. 2. The farming activity on the property will be audited against the Schedule 7 LWRP.