He was responding to a social media campaign of photographs of stock being wintered on crops in Southland and Otago to highlight environmental and animal welfare issues.
That prompted Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor to convene a task force to look at the practice.
Young says parts of some farms are too wet to winter stock on crops or too close to waterways or estuaries but he warns the campaign is a challenge to all farmers.
“We all need to be aware of our environmental impact and animal welfare issues.”
Southland farmers have been further chastised with Environment Southland saying it is disappointed at the winter management of stock by some farmers.
Compliance manager Simon Mapp says an aerial inspection showed a significant number of farmers are not back-fencing animals on crops, providing portable water troughs or using hay or balage feeders.
The council intends making another two inspection flights but it appears too many farmers are ignoring advice on good management practice.
Otago Regional Council acting regulatory manager Peter Winder describes this year’s aerial surveillance as largely encouraging.
“Our flyovers have been showing year-on-year improvements in winter grazing practices, which is good from an environmental point of view.”
Winder says staff visited a Makarora farm shown in an aerial photograph of stock grazing crop as part of the social media campaign.
“The farm in question was operating within the current permitted activity rules. What appeared from the sky to be mud was largely sand.
“One of our compliance officers had a very positive educational conversation with the landowners.”
Young says while most farmers are doing their best, some are making little or no effort.
“Between all the industry players we are trying to bring about best management practice and getting the real laggards to change their systems.”
Blanket regulation requiring back-fencing is impractical because it could prevent stock from accessing dry areas and ignores different terrain and soil types.
One option being considered is finding ways to streamline and reduce the cost of building consents for wintering barns or to get favourable terms by buying materials in bulk.
He is not fazed by the ministerial taskforce but tempered his support on who is appointed.
Waikato environmentalist Angus Robson has been touring Southland in recent weeks photographing what he considers to be poor conditions for animals.
He believes there are too many cows in Southland which he blames on DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb, Fonterra and banks for encouraging expansion to unsustainable levels.
“With every bit of mess, B+LNZ, DairyNZ, vets and Fonterra all blame farmers for having done this or that but where is the industry leadership?”
Robson has approached O’Connor with proposals he believes could improve animal welfare.
He advocates a standard objective measurement of cow condition backed by fines for minor misdemeanours instead of prosecution, the only option now available to inspectors.
He also wants anonymity for staff or neighbours who alert inspectors to stock in poor condition and a requirement that those properties be inspected within 48 hours.
B+LNZ and DairyNZ support the Government’s taskforce saying poor wintering practices are unacceptable and farmers need more education on best practice.
The weather bomb that struck the South Island last week brought up to 90mm of rain and 30cm of snow over southern and eastern parts of Southland and Otago, in several instances more rain fell than was recorded all last month.
