An aerial inspection by regional council staff prompted chief executive Rob Phillips to conclude farmers have made positive improvements.
“I’m encouraged by what we’ve seen. Farmers appear to have made a real effort, which is exactly what we need.”
Phillips said it is early in the season so wet weather will change conditions.
The inspection suggests farmers have fenced waterways and created buffer zones with no immediate compliance concerns found.
Southland Federated Farmers vice-president Bernadette Hunt says it shows farmers are keen to improve standards and have listened to industry and counicl advice.
Last winter environmentalists photographed and put on social media examples of bad wintering practices and Hunt says farmers are nervous this year.
“There is a feeling that no matter how good you are, if somebody wants to find a bad photograph, they will.
“I hope those detractors behind the negative publicity last year will have some empathy.
“We are never perfect all of the time but often there is a lot more going on than what you can see from the roadside.
“We had 20mm of rain last night and I am sure some of our paddocks won’t look great but that does not mean we are laggards. But the sun will come out tomorrow and it will look great again.”
Last weekend provincial president Geoffrey Young hosted the environmentalists responsible for last year’s publicity and Hunt says it was beneficial and they left with a better understanding.
Last year the council warned winter grazing practices must improve significantly and was part of a joint approach with DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb, Federated Farmers and the Envireonment and Primary Industries Ministries to address the issues.
In autumn the council made several aerial inspections that identified a small number of potential issues and gave advice to those farmers.
Phillips says staff are still working through the information and photographs gathered on the latest flight and will arrange follow-up advice for a handful of properties that could face issues in wetter weather.
“A lot of effort has gone into ensuring farmers understand what is expected of them and providing the advice and information to help them get there.”
