Environment Canterbury today announced its approval of a new tool for Selwyn Waihora farmers to use. “NCheck” has been approved for use in the Selwyn Te Waihora catchment only.

Environment Canterbury Chief Executive Bill Bayfield said NCheck was a simple way for farmers and lifestyle block owners in the Selwyn Te Waihora catchment to find out their property nitrogen losses and whether they need a land use consent to farm.

Cropping farms and those with low nitrogen losses can then use the NCheck report in the consent process. OVERSEER® is still the best tool for farms with high nitrogen losses.

“This will be good for farmers and good for the environment,” Mr Bayfield said. “Selwyn Waihora is one of the most challenging catchments in the country in terms of water quality and there are tough rules in place for farming activities. There is a particular focus on cultural effects and environmentally sensitive areas including Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere.”

Diana Mathers, Farm Systems Research Manager at the Foundation for Arable Research, has worked closely with Environment Canterbury over the past few years. She said the release of this new tool would be good news for many cropping farmers in Selwyn Waihora.

“By developing NCheck, Environment Canterbury has made the nutrient management and consenting process quicker and more manageable,” Diana Mathers said.

For more information on NCheck, go to www.canterburywater.farm

Find out more on the Land & Water Regional Plan