Selwyn Times: May 01, 2019

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22 Wednesday [Edition datE] May 1 2019 Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi 2 SELWYN RURAL LIFE SELWYN TIMES Towards an environmental diamond Giving up 20ha of grazing land to protect the headwaters of the Selwyn River / Waikiriri was a price well worth paying, says Quartz Hill Station’s Dan Harper. “We can’t put cattle in there now but the positives outweigh the negatives by a long way. We all have to give up a little for the environment so for us it wasn’t a major,” Harper says. The Selwyn River/Waikirikiri starts in the alpine foothills to the west of Glentunnel and its upper reaches, barely more than a stream, flow through Quartz Hill Station. Looking after the environment has long been important on the station. Before Harper came on the scene, his father-inlaw Colin Guild had bought a 20-ha block of tussock land, protected under QEll covenant, which he looked after and kept weeds under control. “Colin has always been aware of the environment and tried to do things the best way possible and we’re proud to be for advice. associated with the covenants,” says Harper. But it was Colin’s brother James, who farms neighbouring station High Peak and who is chairman of the QEll National Trust, who suggested there was more that could be done. “They’ve done a lot of work down on High Peak fencing off waterways, and James said it would be good to carry on the work in the upper reaches of the Selwyn. I just heeded what he said and the penny dropped for me that we do need to be looking after the environment and doing our bit.” Harper contacted Environment Canterbury and then QEll’s Rangiora office. It was agreed that fencing off a two kilometre stretch of the river and excluding stock would be a valuable way to protect water quality. “The whole process was very simple. The three of us had a meeting, looked at the area, decided what was best to do and we went ahead and did it,” says Harper. “The fence was quite a technical build because there were a lot of little streams it went across. Our contractor Warren Blue did a really good job.” Today Harper and his wife Georgie run Quartz Hill and are part owners but her parents Colin and Hillary still live on the 3000-ha property and are available Dan and Georgie have three children, Flossie, 5, Marlow, 3, and Ardie, 1. The station runs 1200 red deer hinds, 450 velveting stags, 5000 ewes and 600 cows. Another property, a 330-ha irrigated farm, 10 km away on the plains, is used for finishing the sheep and cattle bred on Quartz Hill. “It’s a big operation so it has taken me a few years to get my head around the whole thing,” says Harper. “There’re so many classes of stock and getting your timing right especially in here where the weather can be quite harsh, is vital.” But while running the business is a demanding job, caring for the environment in which they live has become more and more important to Harper. “I do love fresh water and fishing and eels and all that sort of stuff, so one of the things that really appealed to me is trying to make sure this waterway is going to be here for generations to enjoy. “My children and their children will hopefully see some benefit and I will too, but if ECan and QEll weren’t there we ‘Looking after the environment is important.’ Dan Harper of Quartz Hill Station is helping to protect the headwaters of the Selwyn River. wouldn’t have done it, well not for a few more years anyway, because we’re just getting going now in terms of production so there’s not $80,000 just lying round.” But that hasn’t stopped them from extending the fenced area and soon another 200m will be fenced off, at Quartz Hill’s expense. Freshwater mussels have been found in the waterway, but Harper is disappointed not to have found freshwater crayfish (kōura) which he remembers being abundant in streams on the Hawke’s Bay farm he grew up on. “I’m working on trying to reintroduce them and it might not be easy. Don’t ask me why they’re not here but the first thing I can do is fence off the waterway and that’s got to be a start.” Harper is well aware that out on the plains the Selwyn River / Waikiriri, which flows into Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere, has more than its share of environmental concerns over water quality, but believes that doesn’t apply in the hills. “I think all the stations up here have done a great job and we’re trying to carry that on. We’re all very proud of the water that enters the Selwyn – it’s pristine and we’re very proud of that and we’ll keep doing it that way.” Canterbury Ltd • Quotations for water system designs and water testing • Pipes, valves, fittings sales • Filtration supply and installation • Pump service, repairs and maintenance • Bore flush and development • Bore pump sales, servicing and maintenance • We also sell, service and repair most pump brands including sewage pumps NEW LOCATION 551 Halswell Junction Road 0800 GRUNDFOS / 0800 478 633 For sales and service or after hours service call Jason 021 649 944 or Mike 021 560 044 www.pumps-filters.co.nz The go to supplier for all your agricultural products... 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SELWYN TIMES Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Wednesday [Edition May 1 datE] 2019 233 SELWYN RURAL LIFE Farmers focused on climate change New recently released research shows farmers are focused on sustainability and the impacts of climate change more than ever. The survey, by Nielsen Research, was commissioned by the Ministry for Primary Industries through the Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change Research programme. “These latest results show that 92 percent of farmers are focused on making their farm more environmentally sustainable, up from 78 percent in the last survey of 2009. That’s really heartening,” says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “Some of the specific actions farmers mentioned were riparian/shelter planting, waterway control, improved fertiliser management and more efficient irrigation systems. This gives us a really valuable understanding of what is front of mind for farmers. “Slightly disheartening is that only 23 percent of farmers anticipate an increased focus on reducing their greenhouse gas emissions in the next five years, so that’s something for us all to work on.’’ Minister for Climate Change James Shaw says that the results of the survey are consistent with expectations. “The survey shows that farmers have a better understanding of what they are able to do on-farm to be more environmentally sustainable, with the exception of greenhouse gas emissions reduction – an area where we know farmers feel they need more information and advice. “The Biological Emissions Reference Group (BERG) report told us that there are lots of solutions emerging, but that the situation varies from farm-to-farm and so solutions need to be tailored. “That’s why we are now investing in developing that advice and integrated farm planning tools. We need to support farmers and growers to transition to sustainable land-use through planning and informed decision-making. “Last year the government consulted on the Zero Carbon Bill, which showed the need to give certainty and direction on the pathway to a low-emissions economy. We will also soon receive the recommendations of the Interim Climate Change Committee on addressing agricultural emissions. This will help us move forward and provide the certainty that will enable rural communities to make long-term decisions,” Minister Shaw says. Minister O’Connor says farmers face a changing climate. “They need to prepare to cope with the intensifying weather effects of climate change and at the same time reduce their environmental footprint – that takes investment in infrastructure, and means you need to be financially viable. “The Coalition Government is scoping the development of resources and information for farmers to fill the knowledge gap in ways to reduce emissions, working with the sector to develop practical on-farm knowledge.” The full report is available at www.mpi. govt.nz. Key statistics 92% focus on making their farms more environmentally sustainable. Specific actions mentioned show an increase, notably riparian/shelter planting, waterway control, improved fertiliser management and more efficient irrigation systems (up from 78% in 2009). 63% of farmers express interest in further information or advice about improving resilience to climate change. Managing severe weather events such as droughts, floods, and harsh winters is most commonly mentioned. Half of farmers think their farm and business is moderately or majorly impacted by current climate or severe weather patterns – this has not changed since 2009 (52% vs 51%). But the proportion of farmers reporting no impact at all has halved, from 19% to 10%. 59% anticipate a moderate or major impact over the next 20 years. 46% saying that clear government policy guidelines will help them take action. 27% of farmers have placed a moderate or major focus on reducing their GHG emissions in the past 5 years (compared with 31% doing so in 2009). 46% of farmers have actively sought information about land management practices or climate change issues in the last 12 months than in 2009 (down from 62%). 58% said financial assistance, incentives or subsidies are most likely to encourage action to make their farms more environmentally sustainable. 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Selwyn Times: May 01, 2019

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