• Our Research
    • Research Strategy
    • Research Sites
    • Current Research Projects
    • Research Results
    • Research Collaborations
    • Research Resources
    • Seed Industry Research Centre
    Current Research
    Current Research
    Research Results
    Research Results
  • Resources
    • Biosecurity
    • Crop Action
    • Nutrient Management
    • Maize
    • Templates and Calculators
    • Cereals
    • Weeds
    • Pests
    • Seeds
    • Diseases
    • News
    • Environment
    • Soil
    • Schools
    Podcast
    Podcast
    Environment and Compliance
    Environment and Compliance
  • Levies & Returns
    • Arable Crops Levy
    • Maize Levy
    • Cereal Silage Levy
    • Farmer Annual Return Form
    • Wholesaler Annual Return Form
    Levies
    Levies
    Annual Returns
    Annual Returns
  • Events
  • News
  • About Us
    • Governance and growers
    • Business Strategy
    • Our People
    • Careers
    • Growers Leading Change
    • Women in Arable
    • Arable Ys
    • Arable Kids
    • Arable Research Groups (ARGs)
    Our People
    Our People
    Growers Leading Change
    Growers Leading Change
  • Ask FAR AI
  • Weather
  • Log In
Ask FAR AI
Weather
Log In
  • Homepage
  • Resources
  • Freshwater And Feps

Freshwater and FEPS

Feature placeholder

The new Freshwater rules require all farmers to have a Freshwater Farm Plan and they will be phased in over time with roll-out prioritised to areas where waterways are less healthy. A decision about the contents of these plans is still to be finalised.

Many arable farmers already have a farm plan that meets regional requirements and are concerned they will need to develop another plan. FAR’s Farm Systems Research Manager, Diana Mathers, says that is likely most existing plans will meet the requirements of a Freshwater Plan, but that it will pay to check once the final format is known.

The requirements for the Freshwater Plan are likely to be:

  • A farm map identifying features such as waterways, critical source (discharge of contaminant) areas, high erosion-prone areas and other risks to the health of the freshwater ecosystem,
  • A risk assessment across specific activities including irrigation, application of nutrients and effluent, winter grazing, stock-holding areas, stock exclusion, offal pits, and farm rubbish pits,
  • A schedule of actions to manage identified features and address identified risks.

They will need to be

  • approved by a suitably qualified and experienced person
  • audited by independent auditors
  • enforced by regional councils.

FAR will be adapting its existing FEP templates to meet the new national regulations and relevant regional rules. We are not expecting substantial changes as our templates already have a focus on reducing losses to waterways.

Presentation: Revisiting Farm Environment Plans - Diana Mathers

Presentation: Understanding the National Environment Standards - Abie Horrocks

Related Resources

31 August 2025

Crop Action: Issue 16, 2025

Crop Action keeps you up to date with arable crop development and actions right across New Zealand.

Read more
31 August 2025

Extra 142 Nutrient management for autumn sown crops after a wet winter

Following a very wet winter, FAR has received a number of requests for information around managing yellow autumn sown crops. This Arable Extra outlines ways to distinguish between nitrogen and sulphur deficiencies and provides some information to support decision making around crop management.

Read more
31 August 2025

Extra 141 Options for replanting milling wheat (2025)

Wet conditions throughout winter 2025 have created challenges for growers across Canterbury. This Arable Extra addresses issues around 1) autumn sown wheat paddocks with drowned out patches and 2) considerations around sowing autumn milling wheat seed in the spring.

Read more
31 August 2025

Cereals update 231: Do T0 fungicides add financial value? Ten years of research says 'no'.

This Arable Update summarises yield and profitability results from 47 FAR trials since 2013, comparing programmes with and without a T0, to help guide your decision-making.

Read more
31 August 2025

Crop Action: Issue 15, 2025

Crop Action keeps you up to date with arable crop development and actions right across New Zealand.

Read more
31 August 2025

Maize Update 89: On-farm biosecurity: Invasive weeds in maize systems and how to avoid them

Farmers face three levels of biosecurity risk; regional biosecurity incursion risk; border biosecurity, regional biosecurity and on-farm biosecurity. This Maize update discusses the importance of on-farm biosecurity, the one factor you have control over.

Read more
31 August 2025

Soil compaction webinar with Philip Wright

Soil health is the key to success in any farming system, join this evening webinar with Philip Wright owner of Wright Resolutions Limited (UK) to learn how reduced and more effective tillage, correct use of tyre pressures can impact on your soil health and structure, possibly increasing yields.

Read more
31 August 2025

AIMI New Zealand survey of cereals areas and volumes: 1 July 2025

The AIMI survey of New Zealand cereal growers, as at 1 July, 2024 is now available online.

Read more
31 August 2025

Crop Action: Issue 14, 2025

Crop Action keeps you up to date with arable crop development and actions right across New Zealand.

Read more
31 August 2025

Guidelines for grower travel applications

FAR levy payers can apply for a grant to attend international industry-related conferences/workshops/events, etc. Find the guidelines here. 

Read more

Ask FAR AI

Discover the power of AI with Ask FAR. Our new intelligent tool provides instant, accurate answers to your questions by searching the vast resources on the FAR website and linking you to the original document for further information. It’s fast, easy and reliable.

Start Chatting
  • Research
  • Levies and Returns
  • Resources
  • Events
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • Schools
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

©2022 Foundation for Arable Research