Story: Farming in the economy

Dirty dairying

Dirty dairying

Milking cow numbers nearly doubled in the 20 years between the mid-1980s and the mid-2000s, as prices for dairy products rose. The increase in herd sizes and stocking rates required high use of phosphate and nitrogen fertilisers to feed pastures, which can cause pollution. In some parts of the country, dairying is dependant on irrigation, using additional water. Some sections of the community complain that farmers are profiting to the detriment of the environment.

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How to cite this page:

Robert Peden, 'Farming in the economy - A sunset industry? 1984 to the present', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/cartoon/17646/dirty-dairying (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Robert Peden, published 24 Nov 2008