Measuring environmental-economic efficiency in the Karapiro catchment, New Zealand

Abstract

New Zealand's success in raising agricultural productivity has been accompanied by higher input use, leading to adverse effects on the environment. Until recently, analysis of farm performance has tended to ignore such negative externalities. However the current emphasis on environmental issues has led dairy farmers to target improvements in both environmental performance and productivity. Therefore measuring the environmental performance of farms and integrating this information into farm productivity calculations should assist informed policy decisions which promote sustainable development. Nitrogen discharge from dairy farming is major source of nonpoint pollution in the Karapiro catchmen..