New pasture guide launched to support farmers in a changing climate
A new publication has been launched that offers a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on commercially available grazing pasture species in New Zealand.
A leading soil scientist says the exact science to meet the demand by the public and government to improve water quality hasn't been in place.
Massey University's professor Mike Hedley says consequently the policymakers have made decisions without really knowing what the exact changes to farm management need to be to achieve this outcome.
He says much of the science used has been in nutrient budgeting, which works well at paddock and farm scale but is poorly connected to water quality.
Hedley is director of the Fertiliser and Lime Research Centre, Massey University, which last week held its annual workshop at the Manawatu campus. At least 250 scientists, farmers and rural professionals attended the three-day event.
This year's theme was nutrient and water management for sustainable farming. Hedley says it was designed to link with the Government's latest science challenge 'Our Land and Water', which will see $230 million spent by CRIs and universities over the next ten years to produce definitive science on how to best manage land and water in New Zealand.
He hopes the collective science expertise will yield real answers for farmers struggling to try to change their farming systems and reduce the impact of diffuse discharge into water.
Hedley says a suggestion that land should be viewed in terms of its suitability rather than its capability will signal a change in land use. In the past, science has mostly driven productivity, irrespective of the potential adverse effects that could have on the environment.
"We need a bit of rethinking of the mitigation strategies of different land units and soil types," he explains. "Some, but not all of it, can be done on individual properties, but it is going to be a tough one to crack and we have to discuss that with farming communities.
"A scenario could involve neighbouring farmers collaborating and developing a share farming agreement; for example, where at a certain time of year they don't have intensive stock on certain soils on one of the farms when there is a high risk of leaching nitrogen or phosphorous into the water."
Hedley believes hard questions will have to be asked about the way we farm in NZ. He says in the present environment of low returns for some agricultural products, farmers are looking more closely at their operations. He suggests this may be a good time for them to look long-term and identify sustainable options for their farms.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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