Kia ora

Firstly, some important news: you now have until 28 February 2024 to have your say on water quality targets for the Horizons Region.

This extension has been made after feedback we received, telling us people needed more time to properly engage. We've taken this on board giving another two months for you to have your say.

This is the last of a series of emails where we've been sharing examples of actions that Horizons has modelled known to reduce the amount of contaminants entering waterways across different environments.

We're seeking feedback on the provisional targets that will not only halt the decline of the region’s water quality but will also help make our communities' visions for freshwater a reality.

We want to know:

• What you think about how the targets are set
• Whether you think the draft visions and community outcomes (which influence the targets) are ambitious but reasonable
• Your thoughts on timeframes and actions that need to be taken to achieve the targets and the possible impacts (eg. social and economic) these may have.

Taking action with cropping management practices

Planting catch crops on dairy farms and horticulture operations may help us to achieve our freshwater targets. 

Catch crops, such as oats, suck up excess nutrients in the soil after a season of intensive farming activities, such as the winter grazing of stock. These crops reduce the amount of nitrogen that leaches from the soil into rivers and streams, which can degrade water quality.

Upon harvesting, catch crops can also provide cost-effective feed for stock.

Taking action with fertiliser management practices

Another action is to test the soil’s nitrogen levels before applying additional fertiliser to vegetables.

Farmers can use cost-effective nitrogen strips to quickly test soil nitrogen levels on-site. These tests help them determine how much additional fertiliser, if any, is needed for their crops.

Farmers can reduce the amount of nitrogen they apply to their soils using these tests without affecting crop yields. This action minimises the excess nutrients that plants can't use from leaching into waterways, which can negatively impact the awa.

Share your thoughts with us by 5 pm 28 February 2024.