Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
Canterbury grows most of the country's wheat, barley and oat crops. But persistently low wheat prices coupled with a high milk payout are believed to be driving farmers out of the industry in hunt of the dairy dollar.
The Canterbury regional council said up to 25,000 more dairy cows could be added to the region's herd this year, following an end to a temporary ban on intensive dairy farm conversions.
Environment Canterbury kept data on new dairy discharge consents as a proxy for conversions, which showed there were 32 new consents approved this year, and 15 more in progress.
It said the maximum number of cows that could be
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