The May changes to the rules managing winter grazing has been pushed to start in November. These changes were announced by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Environment Minister David Parker in April.
The amendments in the winter grazing regulations cover a few areas:
- Replacing a set date for grazed annual forage crop paddocks to be re-sown is letting them be re-sown when conditions allow.
- The requirements about the depth of pugging have been replaced with farmers needing to minimise the effects of pugging on freshwater.
- Newly added is the condition requiring critical source areas in winter crop paddocks would need to be identified and not cultivated or grazed.
The changes will help protect the soil and waterways by placing greater importance on paddock selection and ensuring land was suitable for winter forage crops, O’Connor said. The change in date to November 1 st 2022, give farmers time to plan for 2023 winter grazing.
For more information read this Stuff article.