61% of NZ dairy farmers report synthetic nitrogen use, despite 20-hectare requirement; 85% of farming waterways exceed nitrate guidelines, impacting drinking water for 800K people.
61% of New Zealand's dairy farm operators reported synthetic nitrogen use for the financial year ending June 2023, despite it being compulsory for farms with 20 hectares or more of grazed land. This under-reporting leaves an incomplete picture on the impacts of nitrogen fertiliser use on water quality, with 85% of waterways in farming catchments exceeding the nitrate guideline threshold, affecting drinking water for around 800,000 people.
July 03, 2024
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