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1. Introduction

The Dairying and Clean Streams Accord is an agreement between the Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry and for the Environment, Fonterra Co-operative Group and Local Government New Zealand (on behalf of regional councils). Signed in May 2003, its aim is to achieve clean, healthy water – including streams, rivers, lakes, groundwater and wetlands – in dairying areas.

The Accord sets out five targets for farmers. These are:

  1. Dairy cattle to be excluded from 50 per cent of streams, rivers and lakes by 2007, rising to 90 per cent by 2012.

  2. Fifty per cent of regular crossing points to have bridges or culverts by 2007, and 90 per cent by 2012.

  3. All dairy farm effluent discharge to comply with resource consents and regional plans immediately.

  4. All dairy farms to have in place systems to manage nutrient inputs and outputs by 2007.

  5. Fifty per cent of regionally significant wetlands to be fenced by 2005, rising to 90 per cent by 2007.

Progress is measured by:

  • the results of Fonterra’s 2006/2007 On-farm Environmental and Animal Welfare Assessment

  • the results of an independent audit of Fonterra’s On-farm Assessment

  • regional council monitoring of compliance with regional plans and resource consent requirements for dairy effluent disposal.

This Snapshot of Progress shows the progress Fonterra farmers have made towards meeting Accord targets during the 2006/2007 season and the year-on-year progress made towards the targets since 2003.

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