Member of Parliament for Kaikoura Colin King attended the launch of a community driven farm factsheet on 14th October at Havelock. He was joined by NZ Landcare Trust CEO Nick Edgar, Rural Women NZ President Liz Evans and more than 45 other guests.

Members of the Rai/Pelorus farming community have been working with NZ Landcare Trust Project Coordinator Jodie Robertson to produce their own environmental Best Management factsheet... a set of practical steps for maintaining and improving water quality in the high rainfall conditions experienced in the Rai-Pelorus Catchments.

It highlights four key points:

• keep stock out of waterways
• adequate effluent storage capacity
• low rate effluent application
• attention to nutrient management 

Each aspect is clearly illustrated in this poster format document, offering a punchy practical guide to assist making changes on the ground. 

Farmer Brent Morrison opened the event by saying, “ farmers love their land and the rivers in the area. Most farmers have already completed works on bridges and culverts which are expensive and this has brought about significant improvement in water quality at the Rai Falls."

MP for Kaikoura, Colin King congratulated the farmers for their pro-active actions and officially launched the Fact Sheet.

This factsheet forms part of the 'Farmers as Leaders in Water Quality Project' where the local farming community is taking the lead improving the quality of water in rivers and creeks. The Sustainable Farming Funded project which is supported by NZ Landcare Trust and Marlborough District Council has enabled farmers to source reputable scientific information to help guide their work.

The day highlighted the efforts of three dairy catchments (Aorere, Sherry and the Rai/Pelorus) in the top of the south making significant headway towards water quality improvement through working together, environmental farm plans, and farmer produced factsheets.

Farm Plans are excellent business mamagement tools and play an important role in increasing the information available to the farmer. This information can help increase profitability and improve sustainability. Many of the dairy farmers in the Aorere and the Rai/Pelorus have already adopted this approach and it is anticipated that up to 75% will have plans in place before the end of the project.