Sep 11, 2026
Getting paddocks ready for next season's winter grazing | Issue 224 | September 2026
Next winter starts this spring
Preparing for successful winter grazing begins long before stock enter a crop. Careful paddock selection, strategic crop placement, identifying critical source areas early, maintaining grass buffers, and establishing catch crops following grazing can all contribute to better environmental outcomes and improved farm performance.
Deer Industry New Zealand would like to acknowledge the effort that deer farmers have put into winter grazing management this season. Environmental Stewardship Manager Luka Jansen said it is encouraging to see the continued adoption of good management practices across the region and encouraged farmers to continue building on that progress as they plan for next winter.
With this year's winter grazing period drawing to a close, now is the time to start planning for next season.
Recently, the deer industry received feedback from Environment Canterbury relating to winter grazing activities across South Canterbury. The Council highlighted the good progress farmers continue to make in managing winter forage systems, with good paddock selection, strategic grazing management and effective use of runoff paddocks noted across the region.
The Winter Grazing Stakeholder Group, which includes representation from Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) and the South Canterbury North Otago Deer Farmers' Association, has been encouraged by the ongoing improvements being made by deer farmers throughout the region.
As spring approaches, deer farmers across New Zealand have an opportunity to build on this positive progress by preparing paddocks for next winter. Jansen highlights that we need to be always thinking ahead. For example, where soil and weather conditions allow, establishing catch crops and ground cover as soon as practical can help protect soils, support paddock recovery and reduce the risk of erosion. These good practices play an important role in taking up residual nitrogen, helping reduce nutrient losses to groundwater and waterways.
Many grazed paddocks may already have been oversown, but any bare or heavily-grazed areas should be assessed and, where appropriate, re-established with suitable winter-tolerant species to improve soil stability and ground cover.
Critical Source Areas remain a key focus
One area identified for continued improvement is the management of Critical Source Areas (CSAs). CSAs are the wetter, lower-lying portions of paddocks where water naturally accumulates or flows following rainfall. While they often make up only a small percentage of a paddock, they can contribute disproportionately to soil and nutrient losses if not identified and managed appropriately.
Mrs Jansen encourages deer farmers to take note of where water ponds or runoff regularly occurs after rain, as these areas are likely to be critical source areas. For winter crops that are still to be grazed this season, deer farmers should, where practical, leave CSAs until last or avoid grazing them altogether if conditions become wet. This can help minimise sediment and nutrient movement from paddocks into waterways.
When planning for next season, identifying CSAs early and retaining them in permanent grass remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce environmental risk while maintaining productive farming systems.
Well-established grass areas act as natural filters, helping to trap sediment, nutrients and runoff before they reach waterways.
National winter grazing requirements
Farmers are reminded that the two national winter grazing requirements that remain:
- Maintaining a minimum 5-metre setback from waterways.
- Keeping Critical Source Areas in grass rather than cultivating them or planting them in winter forage crops.
Previous regulations relating to slope limits, pugging depths and pasture resowing dates have been removed.
Other areas worth monitoring
In addition to CSAs, farmers should continue to pay attention to other parts of the farm that may be vulnerable to runoff, soil disturbance and nutrient loss, particularly where stock movement is concentrated. These can include:
- Laneways / races and gateways
- Feeding or water trough areas
- Stock camping sites, fencelines
Managing these areas proactively can improve paddock resilience and help reduce the risk of sediment and nutrient losses during periods of wet weather.
Jansen is happy with the progress being made – We must keep up the good work!
