Otago Regional Council wants to hear from Otago farmers as they work towards a regional water quality plan.

The Council is worried that waterways in the region are being affected by an increase in discharges from intensive farming operations.

It’s holding a forum in Cromwell  later this month to discuss how to manage that increase, according to  council deputy chairman, Stephen Woodhead, who’s also a south Otago sheep and beef farmer.

Mr. Woodhead says this approach to farmers is unique for New Zealand,  although registrations for the forum have so far been slow.