Arable Farmers Shift to Dairy as Fuel and Fertiliser Costs Surge
Some arable farmers are getting out of arable and converting to dairy in the faced of soaring fuel and fertiliser prices on top of a very poor growing season.
The team will provide a direct link between farmers and regional councils, the company says.
Team manager Alastair Taylor comments that, for example, the Sustainable Dairying Water Accord is ‘pressuring’ farmers to manage nutrients on their land.
“Farmers need to navigate through regulations on effluent management, nutrient use and environmental performance. Our new team will provide a direct link between farmers and regional councils to take the hassle out of environmental compliance.
“Regional councils are monitoring farms using the Overseer nutrient management model, which is jointly owned by the fertiliser industry, AgResearch and the Ministry for Primary Industries….
“Throughout New Zealand there is myriad of environmental regulations, by region and within regions. Our specialist team, with local experience and knowledge, helps farmers comply with their local land and water plans.”
The Ballance business extension services team provides nutrient budgets for resource consents, compliance and sale and purchase agreements.
It started in Canterbury and now is also working in the Horizons, Otago and Southland regions.
“In addition to our knowledge of Overseer and modelling farm systems, we also work with the Ballance science and sales teams to give farmers science-related advice,” Taylor says.
The team recently offered all Ballance dairy customers in Canterbury help in obtaining their nitrogen baseline, required under the regional land and water plan.
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