Tough new rules on dairy farm conversion have stirred up feelings in Southland.

A draft policy to make all new dairy farmers prove they can comply with resource conditions, before the conversion goes ahead, has got Federated Farmers in a stew.

The new policy could be in effect next month, with submissions allowed until March 2012.

Russell MacPherson, who heads up Federated Farmers Southland dairy section says the organisation will lodge a submission against the policy.

"We’ve had 2 or 3 years of propaganda. Basically dairy farmers are getting the blame for every little thing.

"What it’s doing is it’s taking initiative away from farmers. Farmers like to look for new ideas to farm better and smarter. This is just a regime of bureaucrats telling us what to do on our farms and I don’t think that is very healthy for New Zealand.

"We’ve seen it done in Europe for generations, and look at the mess they are in. Is that what we want? I very much doubt it."

Southland Regional Council Chief Executive Ciaran Keogh, says the new rules are because the water quality of the rivers in the region is declining, mainly due to the intensification of dairy farming.