Otago dairy farmers’ reporting of their annual fertiliser use rose almost 30 per cent on a year ago, with about 70 per cent now complying with the relatively new regulations, Otago Regional Council (ORC) reports.

ORC’s regulatory data and systems manager Simon Wilson thanked Otago dairy farmers for their efforts in complying with the nitrogen reporting regulations, which have now been in force for two years.

“While the deadline for reporting has passed, all reporting tools are still available and we’re encouraging anyone who hasn’t submitted to complete their returns now,” Simon said.

For the year to 30 June 2023, 70 per cent of Otago dairy farmers reported their fertiliser use (either directly through the Regional Sector Reporting tool, or via Ravensdown or Ballance reporting systems) compared with 54 per cent having reported the previous year.

All three ways of reporting are combined by the Regional Sector nationally into one list.

“This system is working out really well as ORC ends up with one list to work from when checking compliance,” Simon said.

So far 334 Otago dairy farms have delivered reports, of a total 473.    

On another positive note, Simon highlighted changes in Otago fertiliser use compared to the last reporting period.

The new rules (known as N-cap) came into effect in July 2021: meaning annual usage of synthetic nitrogen must not exceed 190 kilogrammes per hectare, averaged across farmers’ grazed land areas.

A resource consent is required for higher fertiliser usage. The cap applies to all pastoral land with dairy farmers required to report their fertiliser usage annually.

Simon said for the previous financial year two per cent of farmer respondents reported being over the cap of 190kgs per hectare, while this just-passed financial year that number was well down, to 0.6 per cent of respondents.

“We’re really pleased to see farmers are able to apply the data, year-on-year, and more specifically target their fertiliser use,” he said.

He says the nitrogen cap was introduced as part of the government’s National Environmental Standards for Freshwater, covering activities which could pose a risk to freshwater ecosystems.