How a Scholarship Helped Build a 1400-Cow Taranaki Farm
On a farm in Tikorangi, North Taranaki, Brent Stevenson is sharemilking 1,400 cows.
Milking on 260ha farm near Tirau, Nelis says reducing waste is always on his mind.
One opportunity he sees is around nitrogen input; limiting the amount of synthetic nitrogen he uses, reducing costs, especially as fertiliser prices sour.
His current project focuses on reducing nitrogen inputs by leveraging natural soil biology of his farm.
The farm is unique as it uses two cow sheds, one of which only milks the A2 heerd.
"We established the A2 herd a few years ago, which was a pretty straightforward process - we tested all the cows and had enough A1-free cows to use for one shed," he told Dairy News.
"At one stage I had done four years of organic dairy farming. It was clear that under the right conditions you could take some nitrogen out of the system without affecting pasture performance.
"I felt it was worth doing a trial to rely on the soil and plant biology more and started exploring different options for a project like that."
Nelis supplies Fonterra, which in turn has a long-term agreement to provide A1-free milk to the a2 Milk Company's Pokeno plant for production of a2 branded products.
Nelis is one of 27 farmers to have received funding from the a2 Milk Company.
The processor has pumped $800,000 into 27 sustainability projects across Australia and New Zealand through the 2026 a2 Farm Sustainability Fund.
It takes the company's total investment in on-farm sustainability initiatives to more than $3.7 million since the fund was established.
The project on Nelis' farm uses a package of BioN, a fertiliser replacement based on living soil biology, and Comcat, which is a root stimulant.
BioN introduces bacteria into the soil. The bacteria capture nitrogen from the air and convert it into nitrogen for pasture growth.
"We're running the project over a 50ha lot, with three applications between September and March," explains Nelis.
"We should have an initial feel for the result in pasture growth by about Christmas, and the hope is that there are savings in both time and cost.
"The opportunity for a grant under the a2 Milk fund helped us to take on the project. There's a risk in changing your system - financially and in performance - and funding like this gives you a chance to take it.
"It's also good for the industry because there are a lot of products out there in theory are good ideas and this sort of thing helps promote great initiatives."
Managing director and chief executive of the a2 Milk Company, David Bortolussi, says the projects reflected the growing focus among farmers on practical innovations that deliver both environmental and commercial benefits.
"Our farmers are finding new ways to improve productivity while reducing environmental impacts, and that's exactly the type of innovation this fund is designed to support.
"The projects funded this year demonstrate that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. They're helping build more resilient farming businesses while delivering measurable outcomes for the environment, animal welfare and local communities," says Bortolussi.
