DOCSLIB.ORG

Will the Introduction of Nutrient Benchmarks Help to Achieve Sustainable Milk Production Systems?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Will the Introduction of Nutrient Benchmarks Help to Achieve Sustainable Milk Production Systems? Will the introduction of nutrient benchmarks help to achieve sustainable milk production systems? A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Environmental Science at the University of Canterbury Nicola Bridget McHaffie Department of Geography University of Canterbury Christchurch, 2012 i Abstract There has been a dramatic expansion of dairying in New Zealand in the last two decades. This has been accompanied by a series of environmental issues around water use and water pollution. This thesis looks at the issue of excess nitrogen and phosphorus lost off dairy farms to waterways using a mixed method approach. Qualitative interviews with dairy farmers and GIS based water quality modelling are employed to explore whether the introduction of nutrient benchmarks would achieve sustainable milk production systems. Two Best Practice Dairy Catchments, Waikakahi in South Canterbury and Inchbonnie on the West Coast, were investigated as the study areas. These catchments are part of an established DairyNZ program. Findings show that nutrient benchmarks do have the ability to achieve sustainable milk production systems in the catchments. It presents the implications and recommendations for the benchmarking project. ii Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures ....................................................................................................................................... vii List of Tables ....................................................................................................................................... viii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ xi Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Thesis statement ............................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Best Practice Dairy Catchments ...................................................................................... 4 1.3 Research aim .................................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Study areas ....................................................................................................................... 7 1.4.1 The Inchbonnie Catchment .............................................................................................. 9 Site description ................................................................................................................ 9 Main environmental concerns regarding Lake Brunner ................................................ 11 1.4.2 The Waikakahi Catchment ............................................................................................ 12 Site description .............................................................................................................. 12 Main environmental concerns........................................................................................ 14 1.5 Structure of thesis .......................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 2 HISTORY AND GROWTH IN THE NEW ZEALAND DAIRY INDUSTRY ...... 18 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 18 2.2 The dairy industry in New Zealand ............................................................................... 18 2.2.1 History and current structure ......................................................................................... 18 2.2.2 International dairy market.............................................................................................. 22 2.3 Environmental concerns around dairying ...................................................................... 24 2.3.1 Nitrogen ......................................................................................................................... 27 2.3.2 Phosphorus..................................................................................................................... 28 2.3.3 Why are nitrogen and phosphorus an issue in New Zealand waterways? ..................... 30 Environmentally ............................................................................................................ 30 Culturally ....................................................................................................................... 33 Socially and economically ............................................................................................. 35 iii 2.4 Current nutrient management framework under the Resource Management Act (1991) .. ....................................................................................................................................... 36 2.4.1 The Resource Management Act (1991) ......................................................................... 36 2.4.2 Central government management under the RMA ........................................................ 38 2.4.3 Regional council management under the RMA ............................................................. 39 Point source discharges ................................................................................................. 40 Non point source discharges .......................................................................................... 41 2.5 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 42 Chapter 3 Nutrient management in New Zealand ...................................................................... 44 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 44 3.2 Nutrient management through the RMA in Lake Taupo and Lake Rotorua .................. 44 3.3 Industry driven nutrient management ............................................................................ 52 3.3.1 Dairying and Clean Streams Accord (2003) .................................................................. 52 3.3.2 Westland Milk Products’ Environmental Code of Practice ........................................... 55 3.3.3 Nutrient budgets and Nutrient management plans ......................................................... 55 3.4 Nutrient benchmarks ...................................................................................................... 58 3.4.1 Explanation .................................................................................................................... 58 3.4.2 Development .................................................................................................................. 59 3.4.3 Implementation .............................................................................................................. 60 3.4.4 National and international reasons to improve nutrient management through the introduction of nutrient benchmarks .............................................................................. 61 National reasons to introduce benchmarks .................................................................... 61 International reasons to introduce benchmarks ............................................................. 63 3.5 What is a sustainable milk production system? ............................................................. 65 Chapter 4 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 69 4.1 Farmer interviews .......................................................................................................... 69 4.2 Water quality modelling ................................................................................................ 73 4.2.1 The CLUES model ........................................................................................................ 74 Components of the CLUES model ................................................................................ 75 Running the CLUES model ........................................................................................... 79 Calculation of nitrogen and phosphorus losses ............................................................. 79 Calculations of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations .............................................. 80 Calculation of mitigations.............................................................................................. 81 4.2.2 Scenario One: current water quality .............................................................................. 82 Measured water quality data for comparison ................................................................. 86 4.2.3 Scenario Two: water quality predictions with benchmarks ........................................... 87 iv Water quality values for comparison with predictions .................................................. 89 4.2.4 Methodology for modelling Lake Brunner .................................................................... 92 4.2.5
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Dairy Cows 1.6
    DAIRY COWS 1.6 DAIRY COWS ͵ ECONOMIC PRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Jacqueline S. Rowarth Waikato Management School, The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240 ABSTRACT: New Zealand’s history of settlement and economic development has been tied to dairy production. Over the last two decades, a tipping point of public understanding has been reached, and increasing research has been directed towards understanding the economic impact of the dairy industry, both in terms of the export economy and the environment. This chapter outlines the development of the dairy industry, its current state, and New Zealand’s economic dependency on dairy exports. Environmental impact is discussed and the cost and implications of attempting to regulate water quality emphasised. Key words: carbon, dairy, production, food safety, nitrogen, water quality. INTRODUCTION that would yield milk of the best quality; ‘in fact, nothing but Cows have been milked in New Zealand since 1814 when New intense farming will pay in the future applied to every branch’, South Wales Governor Lachlan Macquarie gave animals from the (New Zealand Year Book 1900). The message of intensifi cation Crown Herd to missionary Samuel Marsden. They were short- (as it was understood then) was taken on board. In 1890, dairy horns – useful draught animals, with what was then considered products formed 7% of total exports, the bulk going to Britain to be ‘good milk and excellent meat’ and the ideal multi-purpose and Australia. By 1920, the proportion was 22% of total exports, animal for missionary stations. In addition, butter, which was less increasing to 42% by 1930.
    [Show full text]
  • Dairy Farmers' Responses to Water Quality
    Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. Dairy Farmers’ Responses to Water Quality Interventions: A Case Study in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of New Zealand –––––––––––––––––––––––––––– A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture and Environment Palmerston North, New Zealand Heather Mildred Collins 2018 Abstract Abstract New Zealand freshwater quality has declined, and dairy farming is one identified contributor to this decline. This research provides insight into dairy farmers responses to the water quality interventions introduced to mitigate diffuse pollution, and the socio-cultural dynamics that shaped their responses. Putnam’s (2000) social capital theory was the theoretical framework used to explore how and why New Zealand dairy farmers responded to water quality interventions and the role of social capital in shaping dairy farmers’ responses. A single qualitative case-study research design was undertaken in one Water Management Zone of the Manawatu-Wanganui Region. Data was drawn from semi-structured interviews with dairy farmers and key informants, and from documents. Farmer response is identified as a multi-dimensional rather than a uni-dimensional phenomenon. The dairy farmers responded to water quality interventions as individuals and collectively, and these responses were linked and interwoven. Individual farmer awareness and understanding, emotion and behaviour changed. Collectively, resistance, social learning, formation of a farmer- led action group and changes in accepted farming practices occurred.
    [Show full text]
  • Milk Or Water? a Discussion of Legal and Social Mechanisms Confronting the Tension Between Economics and the Environment in the Otago Region’S Dairying Industry
    Milk or Water? A Discussion of Legal and Social Mechanisms Confronting the Tension between Economics and the Environment in the Otago Region’s Dairying Industry Prateek Gupta 8758303 Submitted to Ms. Nicola Wheen For Completion of LAWS 480 at the University of Otago Submitted on October 9, 2015 Table of Contents I: Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 3 A) The Tension between Viable Dairy Farming and Effective Water Management ............. 3 II: Legislation as the Solution to Resolve the Tension ............................................................. 4 A) The Current Culture of Water Management ..................................................................... 4 1. The Resource Management Act and Regional Plans ...................................................... 4 2. The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and its Implementation in Otago .................................................................................................................................. 6 B) The State of Otago’s Environmental Protections .............................................................. 7 1. Addressing the Dairy Industry at Large: Existing Legislative Framework .................... 8 2. Addressing the Dairy Industry at Large: The Water Management Culture ................. 10 3. Addressing the Dairy Industry at Large: Implementation of Recommendations ......... 12 4. Addressing the Individual Offenders ...........................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Dairy Farming, Landscape and Community Change
    Lincoln University Digital Thesis Copyright Statement The digital copy of this thesis is protected by the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). This thesis may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use: you will use the copy only for the purposes of research or private study you will recognise the author's right to be identified as the author of the thesis and due acknowledgement will be made to the author where appropriate you will obtain the author's permission before publishing any material from the thesis. The influence of the Black and White tide: Dairy farming, landscape and community change A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Social Science at Lincoln University by Philippa Jane Rawlinson Lincoln University 2011 i Abstract of a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Social Science. Abstract The influence of the black and white tide: Dairy farming, landscape and community change by Philippa Jane Rawlinson In Austen, a part of Canterbury in the South Island of New Zealand, pastoral and arable communities have been centrally important to the rural economy, community, and landscape for multiple generations. Recently, these multi-generational land uses have been replaced by intensive dairy farms. The change has been dramatic. Sheep flocks and arable crops have been replaced by luscious swathes of green pasture and herds of dairy cows. Dairy farmers and their employees have replaced farming families, many of whom have been in the community for multiple generations.
    [Show full text]
  • Waikato Region
    http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/ Research Commons at the University of Waikato Copyright Statement: The digital copy of this thesis is protected by the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). The thesis may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use: Any use you make of these documents or images must be for research or private study purposes only, and you may not make them available to any other person. Authors control the copyright of their thesis. You will recognise the author’s right to be identified as the author of the thesis, and due acknowledgement will be made to the author where appropriate. You will obtain the author’s permission before publishing any material from the thesis. The financial costs of environmental compliance through reducing nitrogen leaching for a range of Waikato dairy farm system intensities A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management Studies in Agribusiness at the University of Waikato Thomas Macdonald Department of Agribusiness University of Waikato 2014 Abstract The New Zealand dairy industry has grown significantly over the past decade through increasing both area farmed and the number of cows milked. Dairy farm systems have intensified as a result of the use of supplementary feeding, increased stocking rate and land use changes. Environmental regulations have been implemented as a means to limit and mitigate the negative environmental impacts of dairy under the National Policy Statement for Fresh Water. In the Waikato, regulation to date has predominatly been focused on effluent storage and application.
    [Show full text]
  • Changing Agriculture
    University of Fribourg I Faculty of Science and Medicine Department of Geosciences I Unit of Geography Changing agriculture Southland farmers’ struggles to reconcile neoliberal production demands with increasing environmental regulation Master Thesis in Human Geography Supervised by Prof Dr Olivier Graefe By Anna Geiser (14-203-038) Bürglenstrasse 53 3006 Bern [email protected] Fribourg, the 10th of February 2020 I dedicate this study to everyone who is dealing with the flooding of Southland right now. Kia kaha. I Abstract Southland, New Zealand, farmers are stuck in between two opposing poles: They need to increase the profitability of their farming operations in a completely deregulated economy, while simultaneously dealing with the pressure from an increasing public awareness of how intensifying agricultural practices are harming the natural environment. This study takes the perspective of Bourdieu’s ‘theory of practice’ in order to research how farmers deal with this predicament. Based on interviews with ten farmers, it shows first that different types of motivation for farming in Southland exist: While for some, their paramount reason to farm is carrying on the family legacy, for others it is the ‘lifestyle’ of farming. And others yet, see farming as a way to make a lot of money. But all of these farmers are at the mercy of the same paradoxes. Apart from the economy vs. ecology dilemma, they face the contradictory situation of orienting their values and motivations towards farming in view of their local community, but actually, they produce for anonymous consumers in far away overseas markets. These fields of tension inform the farmers’ questioning of the legitimacy of the policy makers of the most recent agri-environmental plan introduced in Southland.
    [Show full text]
  • The Worsening Condition of Fresh Water in New Zealand and Its Relationship to the Fonterra Dairy Cooperative
    Robert Roxborough The worsening condition of fresh water in New Zealand and its relationship to the Fonterra Dairy Cooperative Metropolia University of Applied Sciences Bachelor of Business Administration International Business and Logistics Bachelor’s Thesis Date 30th April 2020 ‘s Abstract Author Robert Roxborough Title The worsening condition of fresh water in New Zealand and its relationship to the Fonterra Dairy Cooperative. Number of Pages 38 pages Date 30th April 2020 Degree Bachelor of Business Administration Degree Programme International Business and Logistics Instructor/Tutor Michael Keaney, Senior Lecturer This thesis examines the relationship between the Fonterra Dairy Cooperative, its production methods, production inputs and the resulting pollution to New Zealand’s lakes, rivers and streams. Fonterra has been chosen as the focus of this thesis, as it accounts for approximately 90 per cent of New Zealand’s dairy industry, and it is the biggest exporter of milk products in the world. The eutrophication of freshwater, outbreaks of Escherichia coli, and water shortages are all shown to be significantly influenced by nutrient runoff from dairy farms and the excessive quantities of water being used to irrigate dairy farms in dry regions. The worsening condition of New Zealand’s fresh water has by in large occurred during the period since Fonterra was created. Therefore, this thesis aims to establish whether the intensity of dairy farming practices that cause water pollution and overconsumption have changed during Fonterra’s period of control over the dairy industry. This was achieved by examining statistics relating to the causes of nutrient runoff, irrigation infrastructure expansion and nitrogen runoff from dairy farms.
    [Show full text]
  • Dairying and Declining Water Quality
    Dairying and Declining Water Quality Why has the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord not delivered cleaner streams? Neil Deans: Fish & Game New Zealand Kevin Hackwell: Forest & Bird October 2008 2 Table of contents Executive summary 5 A review of the effectiveness of the first five years 7 of the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord What has the Cleans Streams Accord been trying to achieve? 9 Review of the Accord’s effectiveness 10 Summary of achievement of the Accord targets performance 12 and comparison with 2006/7 Snapshot Report Has the Clean Streams Accord delivered clean streams? 17 Reporting against the Clean Streams Accord objectives Implementation of so-called ‘Best Practice’ 26 Do voluntary accords work? 29 What are the alternatives to the Accord / voluntary approach? 30 Conclusions 32 Recommendations 33 3 Executive Summary The 2003 Dairy and Cleans Streams Accord was an implicit challenge to the dairy industry to deliver on its aspirations to provide an excellent standard of product integrity. Such integrity must be demonstrated throughout the supply chain. A producer must meet not just end- product quality tests, but also take responsibility for its by-products and their effect on the environment. The results presented in this paper are one measure of the extent to which the dairy industry is not meeting its environmental responsibilities. The Accord was an attempt to bring about a partial solution to the widespread and steep decline in the quality of lowland waterways. Although a voluntary agreement, it was to address a very significant and readily treatable source of degradation – dairy effluent and nutrients entering rivers and streams.
    [Show full text]
  • Responsibility Without Regulation: a Dilemma for the Dairy Industry
    CASE PROGRAM 2014-159.1 Responsibility without regulation: a dilemma for the dairy industry (A) At parliament on 9 July 2013, New Zealand’s Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy launched the dairy industry’s new Strategy for Sustainable Dairying 2013-2020: Making Dairy Farming Work for Everyone. It was designed to capitalise fully on the global opportunities presented by the world demand for dairy products, and to “show everyone how world-class we are as dairy farmers and caring custodians of the land…responsible at a catchment and community level for building sustainable businesses, delivering local and national prosperity.” Handed out at the same time was the cornerstone document for environmental stewardship, the Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord. The 16-page publication was subtitled “A commitment to New Zealand by the Dairy Sector.” It replaced the Dairy and Clean Streams Accord (CSA), launched at parliament in May 2003, with high hopes that the industry could demonstrate it could voluntarily manage its environmental impact, without need for regulation. But early in its existence the CSA was criticised as “toothless”. Only one of its five targets had been reached by the end date of June 2012, while an increasing amount of scientific data was showing water quality deteriorating in many places associated with pastoral agriculture. With the new accord, Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand Chairperson John Luxton said, “We’re stepping up as an industry …to take responsibility for driving change and measuring progress towards our environmental goals.” 1 It was a broader and more This case was written by Janet Tyson for Professor John Alford, Australia and New Zealand School of Government.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluating Ecocide: Invaluable Or Invalid?
    EVALUATING ECOCIDE: INVALUABLE OR INVALID? Meghan Nicholson A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the degree of Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) at the University of Otago. October 2012 Acknowledgments To my supervisor, Nicola Wheen, thank you for your thoughtful guidance and good humour throughout the year. To my flatmates and friends, thank you for keeping things in perspective and for knowing how to make me laugh. To my mum, thank you for your proofreading skills and for all your love and support, past and present. Finally, to George, thank you for your constant encouragement and for the care parcels, even though some got lost in the post. ! ii! TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS iv TABLE OF LEGISLATION v TABLE OF CASES vi INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER ONE – A PROPOSED CRIME OF ECOCIDE 3 I. Context 3 II. Analysis of the proposal 5 III. Proposed amendments 14 CHAPTER TWO – CRITICAL EVALUATION 15 I. Standard of liability 15 II. Application to individuals 22 III. Proposed amendments 29 CHAPTER THREE – CASE STUDY: DIRTY DAIRYING IN NZ 30 I. Dairying in New Zealand 30 II. Dirty Dairying under the RMA 33 III. Dirty Dairying under Ecocide 41 a. Definition 41 b. Liability per the current drafting 46 c. Liability per the proposed amendments 46 CHAPTER FOUR – LIKELY BENEFITS 49 I. Symbolism 49 II. Suit to the ICC 50 CONCLUSION 53 BIBLIOGRAPHY 55 APPENDIX I: Ecocide Act 2010 63 ! iii! LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ICC International Criminal Court ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross MAF Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry OAG Office
    [Show full text]
  • How Dairying Is Shaking Off Its Unfortunate Image
    HERE is strange emotive power to alliteration. T Headline writers use it when they string together words beginning with the same letter or sound: French farce, fickle fate, Habitat for Humanity’s homes faulted in Florida…dirty dairying. For an industry that brings billions of dollars to the country’s coffers and is a pivotal way of life in regions like Taranaki, the image is unfortunate, the words an unwelcome reminder that for a new How dairying is generation the environmental cost of converting green grass to white gold must now be counted. shaking off its And countered. Water is central to the conundrum. Taranaki has unfortunate image always been ideal for dairy farming because plentiful rain guarantees good pasture and provides many hundreds of what were once regarded as “drains”, the streams, to take away any unwanted end-product. Today, despite evidence of climate change, the first part of that sentence still applies, but the second bit is a goner. The days of building a dairy factory or a cowshed on the banks of a handy stream so you could discharge the milk wastes or hose out the manure after twice-daily milking and rely on the waterway to dispose of it are long gone, a distant memory from the 70s. Then, nearly all of the 300-plus streams flowing off Mt Taranaki to the sea were so polluted by cattle wastes and milk factory discharges, farmers in the lower parts of the catchments couldn’t use the water for stock. Ch 9, Clearing the Water – Dairying, March 5, 2014 – By Jim Tucker These days, despite the total number of cows waterways by bridges, culverts, fences and riparian growing 20% in the past two decades, dairy shed planting.
    [Show full text]
  • Conversion of Family Farms and Resilience in Southland, New Zealand
    Int. Jrnl. of Soc. of Agr. & Food, Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 7–29 Conversion of Family Farms and Resilience in Southland, New Zealand JÉRÉMIE FORNEY AND PAUL V. STOCK [Paper first received, 21 May 2012; in final form, 20 August 2013] Abstract. The well-known deregulation of New Zealand agriculture prompted the growth of dairy farming, particularly in the region of Southland. The forma- tion of the giant cooperative Fonterra only exacerbated the conversion of sheep farms into dairy farms that challenged both farmers’ and the region’s traditional identity as a sheep country. Interviews with converted farmers show that farming families convert to dairy primarily in an attempt to preserve what is important for them: farm succession and a professional identity. At the community level, conversions to dairy prompted economic revival and a reversal of population loss. This article engages the literature on resilience and rural communities to explore Southland’s adaptation to new economic and farming realities while exploring potential shocks in the future around financialization and environmental well- being. Introduction Rural sociology tries to understand social change (Lowe, 2010). Though assump- tions of the rural often presume descriptions such as tradition, natural and the rural idyll (Lowe and Ward, 1997), alternative interpretations counter with moral con- servatism, backwardness, and other variations on the hillbilly theme (Bell, 2006). The tension between persistence and adaptation permeate analyses of the rural and family farming throughout the agri-food literature (Buttel et al., 1990; Wilkinson, 1991). In this article, we examine farmers’ perceptions and experiences of dramatic economic changes in relationship to farm(er)- and community-level changes.
    [Show full text]