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The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand promotes and encourages responsible and scientifically-based nutrient management.
Dairy farmers milking cows on a farm area of more than 20 hectares are required to record synthetic nitrogen use on their dairy platform land, including a zero-kilogram record if no synthetic nitrogen is used. The regulations require data to be submitted by 31 July of each year for the preceding year ended 30 June.
Regional and unitary councils have been working with Ravensdown and Ballance to deliver a consistent method for storing and reporting the synthetic nitrogen fertiliser data in line with the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater 2020.
There are three tools available to help farmers report. It is a farmer’s choice which tool they use to help them comply with the Regulations.
The three tools that farmers can choose from to submit records of synthetic nitrogen use are:
In the first year of recording the data have revealed the following information:
Based on feedback from farmers and councils the tools have been enhanced for 2023. The changes for 2023 include:
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.
28 June 2023
Dairy farmers milking cows on a farm area of more than 20 hectares are required to record synthetic nitrogen use on their dairy platform land, including a zero-kg record if no synthetic nitrogen is used. The regulations require data to be submitted by 31 July each year for the preceding year ended 30 June.
14 May 2023
The New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research has published a paper titled Nitrogen fertiliser use in grazed pasture-based systems in New Zealand. The research paper was commissioned by the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand and written by AgReserch senior scientist Colin Gray.
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