If not done properly they could threaten farm profitability and environmental success.
The plans are a requirement in the Government’s freshwater proposals.
Macnab, who compiles plant for Waikato farmers, has run 65 workshops for more than 600 farmers on how to formulate a plan. He also works one on one with farmer clients.
He believes the Government’s latest water quality proposals hold no great surprises for Waikato farmers but he is conscious the regulations will cause some stress.
And that can be heightened if the plans are not based on a well-founded knowledge of farm systems.
“The greatest changes and often the most profitable will be made by knowing what the low-hanging fruit are in the existing farm system and being able to adapt that in a way farmers can understand.”
He has already had to redo a plan done by a consultant because it was too heavily based on theory with little practical application.
“Any plan requiring major capital expenditure and technology input is unlikely to be effective. Over 80% of progress will be made just by making relatively simple changes to the farming methods used.”
He doubts there is anywhere near the 200-plus people needed for the plans available in New Zealand with the skills to provide them.
“And you risk seeing the entire thing being dumbed down, becoming a tick-box exercise, so in 10 years’ time we look back and say ‘the FEPs, they did not work.’
“It will because we never had the right people doing them in the first place.
“I worry they will just shove through the numbers they need.”
He points to the Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons) sustainable land use initiative in Manawatu.
“It was a fantastic initiative but was so technical and disconnected from farmers it was hard to get them to engage with it.”
In contrast, one of the best examples of successful plan implementation comes deer Deer Industry NZ’s workshop groups, the Advance Parties.
“They have tight clusters of seven to eight farmers and it takes them through the FEP process over four-five days.
“It is staggering how good these plans are.”
The workshops have helped keep the cost of FEPs down to about $1500 a farm, with farmers doing most of the work.
Those done one on one can cost $5000 to $7500 and costs of about $200 an hour can arise.
AgFirst director James Allen agrees FEP skills are another level above relatively simple nutrient budgeting skills, often held by fertiliser company reps and farm advisers.
They usually involve using Overseer to develop fertiliser plans and determine nutrient runoff from farms.
Allen is on the Nutrient Management Adviser Certification Programme and estimates there are about 200 certified members in NZ.
“But when it comes to FEPs we are talking another set of skills around farm systems.
“But we may find some of these people do become a source for FEP planners.”
Waikato Regional Council will allow programme members to set farm nitrogen limits under Healthy Rivers but requires another level of skills to complete environment plans.
“The issue will be the timeframe to roll out FEPs and the number of people on hand to do them. For companies like ours, though, the issue is if you put several people on FEPs who will do the other work they are no longer doing?”
He is getting a reasonable number of very capable agricultural graduates applying for work, many with a strong sustainability focus in their background.
“Overall, I think we will be all right but things may not move as quick as some may like.”
Macnab welcomed the Government funding in the last Budget to help farmers transition, including FEP development.
“But farmers have to be part of the process to allocate that money otherwise it will be swallowed up by bureaucrats and consultants,” he said.
