The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will step up proactive farm visits and provide practical advice for farmers in the lead-up to the winter grazing season.
MPI national response manager Andrew Curtis will prioritise visits to farms where it can be more problematic to manage soil conditions during periods of wet weather.
"We’ll be assessing these farms before livestock start grazing winter feed and they will be closely monitored to ensure they are meeting animal welfare standards. We will do follow-up visits in June, said Curtis.
Alongside the above, MPI has been working with regional councils and industry groups, especially in Otago and Southland, to develop practical information to help farmers prepare.
This includes an information flyer that contains a winter grazing checklist. Extra support is available for Southland farmers around managing their animals and reducing mud buildup should they need it.
"Most farmers work hard to do the right thing and have carefully planned ahead to look after their animals. Some farmers will need to continue adapting their approaches to ensure they have more robust back-up plans during extreme weather, which can come with little warning.”
Curtis said a well-planned winter grazing system supports good animal health and welfare. It ensures animals have sufficient and appropriate feed, access to clean water, and comfortable areas to lie down and rest.
MPI’s proactive on-the-ground support aims to ensure better outcomes for livestock, the environment, and farmers.
MPI will also have a helicopter in the air from time to time so that it can pinpoint potential winter grazing problem areas.
Earlier this year MPI successfully prosecuted a Southland livestock grazing company for allowing hundreds of cattle to graze in mud with the company fined NZD 48,750.
"We visited numerous properties throughout Southland during winter 2024 and found most farmers were on top of their winter grazing requirements with good plans in place.”
Sector groups have useful resources and information on their websites to help minimise the amount of mud created during winter grazing, such as back fencing and using portable water troughs to reduce walking distances for livestock.
Winter grazing is an annual practice where livestock are grazed on forage crops between May and September throughout Southland, much of Otago and other parts of New Zealand.
