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New Zealand’s reputation as a quality food producer is growing.
The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand promotes and encourages responsible and scientifically-based nutrient management.
The RMA is given effect through regional and district plans – e.g. regional air quality plans, water quality plans and land (soil) management plans. In particular, Regional Councils have responsibility for controlling discharges to land, water, and air. This has implications for fertiliser handling and use, as well as overall loss of nutrients from land use activities.
Nutrient management activities often include fertiliser use and the disposal of animal waste products. It is important to realise that nutrient management activities that are classed as ‘permitted activities’ (i.e. that can be practiced without resource consent so long as management complies with certain conditions) in one region may have different conditions imposed or even require resource consent in another. It is up to each landowner or manager to make sure they know their regional plan requirements and meet these.
Some Regional Council rules many list fertiliser use applied in accordance with this Code as a permitted activity, but they may also list other permitted activity conditions that the land owner or manager will need to be aware of.
The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand and Dairy NZ funded development of the Nutrient Management Adviser Certification Programme (NMACP). This industry-wide certification aims to ensure that advisers have the learning, experience and capability to give sound nutrient advice.
15 April 2021
Good soil fertility is critical for our agricultural economy. We welcome today's report. One of the areas highlighted in the report is soil quality, and in particular, soil fertility as measured by the 'Olsen P' soil test. However, the report's analysis is based on a limited data set. Our analysis of industry data suggests a slightly different picture than presented in the report.
31 March 2021
Congratulation to Tim Jefferd, Regional Manager for the Eastern North Island at Agricom, who became the 300th person certified through our Nutrient Management Adviser Certification Programme.
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