Dairying and Clean Streams Accord
The Dairying and Clean Streams Accord is a voluntary agreement between Fonterra, the Ministries of Agriculture and the Environment, and 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 to meet. These are:
- Dairy cattle to be excluded from 50 per cent of streams, rivers and lakes by 2007, rising to 90 per cent by 2012.
- Fifty per cent of regular crossing points to have bridges or culverts by 2007, rising to 90 per cent by 2012.
- One hundred per cent of dairy farm effluent discharges to comply with resource consents and regional plans immediately.
- One hundred per cent of dairy farms to have in place systems to manage nutrient inputs and outputs by 2007.
- 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 annual On-farm Environmental and Animal Welfare Assessment, the results of an independent audit of the On-Farm Assessment, and regional council monitoring of compliance with regional plan and resource consent requirements for dairy effluent disposal.
- A report of progress under the Accord for the 2006/2007 season can be found in the Snapshot of Progress.
