Southland’s Nitrogen Reporting In The Spotlight

Thursday, 27 February 2025, 10:23 pm
Article: Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter

Environment Southland's offer to discuss nitrogen use levels with concerned farmers could be perceived as favouritism, a councillor says.

On Monday, the regional council discussed national reporting for synthetic nitrogen which is due at the end of July.

A yearly cap of 190 kg per hectare has been placed on the substance — used as a fertiliser to help boost plant and grass growth — in hopes it will lower the amount entering waterways.

The Environment Southland website warns excess nitrogen can create significant problems if that happens, including excessive algae.

Despite national reporting rules being brought in several years ago, the council was made aware some properties used higher amounts of the product to increase grass growth following a wet spring.

Council compliance manager Donna Ferguson told elected members an offer was made for farmers to discuss their levels if they were concerned, in a bid to support mental health.

She conceded some feedback received was that “a rule is a rule”, and people shouldn’t be allowed to go over the limit while others worked hard to stay within it.

Councillor Robert Guyton accepted the process as reasonable, but felt it was perceived poorly by some.

“As a non-farmer, the optics weren’t very good. And people did think ‘oh, favourable treatment’ and so on.”

Chair Nicol Horrell said it was a good approach from the organisation, while councillor Peter MacDonald believed it was important farmers built resilience.

Ferguson said less than 10 people had approached the council with concerns, and all had been compliant in the past few years.

If non-compliance had come about as the result of an error, mechanical issues, or a bad season, the council sought confirmation it was a one-off.

Parties that were unable to reduce their use and stay within limits were advised of an obligation to gain a consent.

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