Source: New Zealand Government Ministers David Parker and Damien O’Connor are considering a report and recommendations from the Southland Advisory Group on intensive winter grazing, released today. New intensive winter grazing regulations come into force in May 2021 as part of the Essential Freshwater package. That package was delivered to stop further degradation of waterways, make material improvement in freshwater quality within five years, and restore waterways to health within a generation. “Intensive winter grazing is a high risk activity with regards to freshwater health,” Environment Minister David Parker said. “In Southland, intensive winter grazing is widely used because of low rates of winter pasture growth and non-draining soils.