Much of the $229 million sustainable land use package announced in the Budget will be spent by the Ministry for Primary Industries to help develop farm environment plans and establish a network of field officers.
Parker said $17m will be spent developing good management practices and ensuring farm advisers are trained to support environmental planning.
A further $35m will be spent improving advisory and extension services for farmers to improve water quality but whether they are MPI staff or private consultants is still to be confirmed.
Lessons learnt from Environment Canterbury’s management of freshwater, specifically creating farm plans and the support services around them, could provide a blueprint Parker says might be rolled out nationwide.
Rules will be strengthened around what he called risky farm practices such as cattle feed lots and winter grazing on sloping ground but he wants to encourage and promote best management practice alongside that.
Farm environment plans will become standard based on work being developed by a Primary Growth Partnership programme.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has stressed the plans should not become overly bureaucratic, advice he has taken, Parker said.
He applauded the groundswell of catchment groups springing up around NZ, saying they display community leadership and good farm management practice.
Asked what immediate farm management changes he would like to see, Parker said greater care with the use of nitrogenous fertiliser on the shoulders of the season, avoiding sediment run-off and greater appreciation of the role of micro-wetlands in trapping sediment and reducing E coli levels.
Parker is confident the worst water degradation can be stopped within five years and within a generation get back the rivers NZ used to enjoy.
He acknowledged changes to farm practice and environmental gains take time.
Federated Farmers environment spokesman Chris Allen said the ECan water management model is very much about water users meeting compliance and rules.
He would be happy if Parker promotes good management practices, such as reductions in nutrient use, before enforcement.
Parker says the Budget also provides funding to complete the National Policy Statement on Freshwater and a new policy document, National Environmental Standards.
The statement sets a baseline of rules and helps regional councils implement and administer the rules while the standards signal where improvement is needed and over what time.
The Budget provides $12m to helpl councils develop and implement freshwater plans consistent with the documents.
There is also funding for policy work establishing nitrogen allowances and $59m to upgrade Overseer, tools to aid decision making, improved gathering of environmental data and monitoring in the rural sector.
