Landcorp confirms forest-to-dairy back down

Landcorp confirms forest-to-dairy back down

Friday 11 Mar 2016

Landcorp had been in the process of clearing forestry land north of Taupo in the central North Island for conversion to dairy farms for about 30,000 cows. Landcorp chief executive Steven Carden said the company would significantly reduce its dairying footprint at the Wairakei Estate.

RNZ News earlier reported that Landcorp had come to the realisation that the environmental impacts of its conversions in the Waikato were simply too great. Mr Carden said 14500ha of former forestry land earmarked for dairy farming at the estate would now have alternative uses.

He said this would reduce the risk of phosphate and sediment loss and bacterial contamination, and should also result in a significant reduction in nitrogen leaching. Landcorp needed to exceed the environmental expectations of consumers, he said.

Almost 40 dairy farms were planned for the land leased at Wairakei Estate, where Landcorp currently runs 13 dairy farms with 17,000 cows. Landcorp said it was exploring other land uses, such as sheep milking, to reduce its environmental footprint.

Return to Newsletter

Share |