North Canterbury News: February 10, 2022

Pilot project asuccess
ANextGenerationFarmingpilot will
add‘‘real valuetofarm management’’,
say agroup of Waimakariri farmers.
The pilot was aimed athelping
farmers developpracticalsolutions to
reduce environmental risk, while
remaining profitable.
The farmers worked withthe
WaimakaririLandcareTrust (WLT) and
agriculturespecialists to develop
integrated farm plans (IFPs).
The plans pull together activities
which many farmersand growers
alreadydo, helping provide assurance
of good practice, especially to
consumers.
The pilot study is partofathree­year,
farmer­ledsustainabilityprojectled by
WLT.
Chairperson SamSpencer­Bower
says the project’s objective develop
practical solutions so farmers can farm
intothe future.
‘‘It’s notjust aboutbetter ways to
complywithenvironmental
requirements,’’ he says.
‘‘The real challenge is to identify how
environmental improvements on­farm
can be value­add projects, contributing
to farm income and business
sustainability.’’
All three farmers in the pilot agreed
the way the IFP project is planned will
add value to farm management.
Oxford farmer Gavin Reed saysa
major benefit of thetrial is exposureto
different experts to identify and
mitigate issues on thefarm, and point to
opportunities forimprovement to farm
performance and income.
Mr Reed runsabeef and cropping
farmer on 227hectares at Bennetts,
near Oxford.
‘‘There’s no way one person can come
on to your farm and give you all that
knowledge,’’ he says. ‘‘I think farmers
will find it veryuseful, as longasthey
areprepared to go intothe project with
an open mind, and listen to whatthe
experts have to say andthe
opportunitiestheypresent.’’
Richard Pearce, aSwannanoa
sharemilker with a350ha dairy
platform and 220ha in mixed cropping,
says the feedback he received from the
experts will benefithis business.
‘‘It wasvery worthwhile, youthink
you know your own business, but you
don’t always know what youdon’t know.
‘‘TheIFP process was very goodat
identifying all of the issues and
opportunities.’’
Mr Pearce says he welcomed the WLT
initiative because farming in amore
environmentally sustainable way will
be an essential part of the future.
‘‘We are acommodity driven business
at the mercy ofwhat consumersare
preparedtobuy.
‘‘In themarkets where NewZealand
farmers canaddvalue, thecustomers
areincreasinglyaware of
environmentalissues andwanttoknow
that what they are eating, or wearing,
has come from sustainable farming
practice.’’
Finding away to spendlesstimein
theofficeandmore time out on the farm
is the benefit Gavin Bay expects will
come from theproject.
Mr Bayfarmsa260ha non­irrigated
dairy property in the Ashley Gorge area.
‘‘There are just so many issues now,
so manythingswehavetobecompliant
with.There hastobe amore efficient
wayofmanaging all of that, so we can
actually be out on the farm putting
these ideas into practice, where they
will be contributing to our farming
future.’’
Thethreefarmersall foundprocess
issuesthatneeded tidyingup, butsaid
thatwas thenature ofapilottrial.
TheNextGenerationFarmingproject
isabout working with farmers to devise
better, sustainablewaysoffarming, Mr
Spencer­Bower says. The farmer
feedback will help ensure when the IFP
service is rolled out,itisfit­for­purpose
and will enable ashared journey
toward astrongand sustainable
farming future.
Factorsconsideredwere:business
planning; animal welfare; biosecurity;
employee wellbeing and management
(including health and safety);
agricultural greenhousegas emissions;
freshwater; intensive winter grazing;
biodiversity; waste management;
nutrient management; adverse event
plan(to ensure anagribusinesscan
keep operating during astorm);Te
Manaote Wai; consentsand permits;
andfoodsafety.
RURAL LIFE
North Canterbury News, February 10, 2022
29
On-farm sale
Around8000eweswent underthe
hammer at lastweek’s on­farm saleat
The Lakes Station,near Hawarden.
HazlettLivestock auctioneer
AllisterOrchard saysthe teamatThe
Lakes overcame the wet winter anda
latespring in the highcountryto
bring the lambs forward in good
condition for the sale.
It wasthe second annualon­farm
salehosted by TheLakesStation
Partnership, whichismanaged by
Jim and Sarah Greenslade.
‘‘Weoffered about 8000primeand
store ‘Romdale and down­cross’
lambs and 13005­year‘Romdale’
breeding ewes and60yearling cattle,
which wereall in good forward
condition.
‘‘Mostofthe sheepcome downfrom
the headofLakeSumner, whichtakes
three to fourdaysfor the teamtoget
themhome.’’
Mr Orchard says theHazlett team
arrived on Sunday, January30, to
weanthe lambs, with18,000sheep
going throughthe yards to be drafted.
‘‘Conditionswere veryhot with
temperaturesinthe late20s while
drafting,’’ he says.
The sale was held the followingday,
withcompetitionfrombuyersfrom
North Canterbury,Darfield,
Ellesmereand Mid­Canterbury.
The primelambsfetched between
$140and $168,whilethe store lambs
received$84 to $125.
The breeding ewes fetched$151 to
$180, whilethe yearling cattle sold for
$800to$1100.
2410273
2191656
ONLINE MEAT SALES
MEAT2U.NZ
HOME KILL
&WILD GAME
MEAT PROCESSING
313 0022
FENCING
• Post Driving
• Stock Fencing
• Stockyards
• Post and Rails
• Lifestyle etc
Ph Andy Horn
021 214 1201 or
(03) 314 9460
Thursday,August 2, 2018 | Issue808 | www.ncnews.co.nz
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