Beef + Lamb New Zealand's Land and Environment Planning (LEP) Tool Kit guides farmers through a voluntary, step-by-step process to document the land and environmental issues on their farms and what they do to address them. Farmers can complete the Level 1 or introductory LEP in less than 20 minutes.
 

The LEP Tool Kit recognises that each farm is unique in terms of landscapes, natural resources and farming practices. It includes workbooks and guidelines for three different levels of planning, examples of completed LEPs from around New Zealand, and a reference guide with links and contacts for additional resources and solutions to common problems.

It will assist you to assess different soil types and land use capability to identify and develop individual land management units (LMUs). It will also help you make a plan that ensures farm land is managed sustainably, taking into account the specific soil type, fertility, pasture types, susceptibility to erosion and management practices relevant to your farm.

What’s in the LEP Tool Kit?

·         Information pamphlet. This exaplains what a LEP is, why farmers should have one, the difference between levels 1, 2 and 3, and the equivalence with other environmental systems

·         Reference guide listing key people, information and resources on soil, water and forestry.

·         Booklet showing different types of completed LEPs for sheep and beef farms nationwide.

·         Level 1 LEP workbooks. Farmers can choose one of two methods: farm mapping or risk assessment. Once one of workbooks is completed the farmer will have a level 1 LEP. Approximately half the population find the risk assessment method easier and the other half prefers the farm mapping method.

·         Level 2 LEP guidelines that build on level 1 and help you identify and develop individual land management units (LMUs). Typically it takes a farmer anywhere between two and 20 hours to complete this. Approximately 25% of farmers should be able to complete a level 2 LEP without any specialist input.

·         Level 3 LEP guidelines that build on level 2 and aim to produce a LEP comparable to those used by regional councils and quality assurance programmes. This takes approximately 20 hours to complete and some farmers will require some specialist input.

·         Reference CD listing key LEP material – this is especially good for farmers with dial up or slow Internet connections.

Who developed the LEP Tool Kit?
It was put together by a project team comprising seven farmers and four regional council representatives. Prototypes were extensively trialled with interested sheep and beef farmers before the Tool Kit was finalised.

How do I obtain the LEP Tool Kit?
The Beef + Lamb New Zealand LEP Tool Kit is available free of charge to all levy payers. You can download individual files from this page, or obtain a hardcopy of the LEP Tool Kit by freephoning 0800 BEEFLAMB (0800 233 352), emailing enquiries@beeflambnz.com or writing to PO Box 121, Wellington 6140.

‹ Information Pamphlet (98 kb)›

‹ Reference Guide (1116 kb)›

‹ Examples of Completed LEPs (3947 kb)›

‹ Level 1 Workbook - Risk Assessment Method (174 kb)›

‹ Level 1 Workbook - Farm Mapping Method (219 kb)›

‹ Level 2 Guidelines (1097 kb)›

‹ Level 3 Guidelines (2823 kb)›