Seminar on improving dispute resolution
A seminar on rural dispute resolution has been organised at Lincoln University, Christchurch this month.
New research from Lincoln University suggests biowaste can be used on former pine plantations to generate big economic returns.
Four years of research in a greenhouse environment found the waste, which might include sewage and dairy shed effluent, can be used to rapidly establish native vegetation on former pine forest soils.
Early estimates suggest the natives could produce a financial return of over $200 million annually.
"The signs from our greenhouse trials are extremely positive," Associate Professor Brett Robinson says.
He says the research team have focused primarily on growing native species such as mānuka and kānuka, which can be used to produce valuable products such as honey and essential oils.
"Not only is this a great way of rapidly kick-starting low-fertility soil and a productive use of unavoidable waste which is currently disposed of either inappropriately or expensively, but in focusing on mānuka and kānuka, we can grow the market in products not easily adopted by overseas competitors."
Currently, around 1.8 million hectares of New Zealand soil is under pine plantations, says Lincoln University. This figure is decreasing, however, as there is little economic incentive to replant timber crops. Historically, pine forestry was an effective means of providing an economic return for low fertility soils, but this is no longer the case.
Growing pine trees, followed by logging often results in depleted, nutrient-poor soils. Converting this soil into productive farmland requires the constant application of high rates of fertiliser. Robinson says his research challenges this approach.
He says initial findings suggest the use of biowaste can significantly accelerate the growing capability of these soils by increasing the water and nutrient holding capacity, and providing essential elements.
It has also been found that, when used alongside pine waste and some charcoals, the leaching of nitrates is dramatically reduced.
These species have the added advantage of positively affecting the soil by producing antiseptic chemicals, which kill off pathogens in biowaste-amended soils, he says.
Field trials are expected to start soon.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.