Over the last few years MAF has helped set up many focus farms and horticultural demonstration units throughout New Zealand. Barrie Wallace reports on progress.
| Following the introduction of the RMA in 1991 and the
emphasis on environmental sustainability, primary prod-ucers are being challenged to
demonstrate how they are farming their resources sustainably for future generations. The
international market place and its consumers have also signalled moves towards a greater
focus on environmental issues – a message reiterated at the last GATT round. At the same time the New Zealand
consumer and the wider community are demanding that this issue is In response to these messages, primary producers are increasingly taking on board the issues affecting their industry as well as the need to identify and implement management systems to address them. |
 |
| Members of the Gwavas focus farm group discussing the sustainable land management properties of their soils |
As a result more and more initiatives, including focus farms, are being set up, indicating that primary producers are moving to adapt to and adopt more environmentally focused systems. Other initiatives are also being implemented through individual landcare groups, New Zealand farm forestry groups and sustainable land management groups.
Focus farms are essentially practical discussion groups whose focus is to evaluate, implement and communicate sustainable land management systems. The groups’ strength lies in the wide range of member backgrounds and viewpoints; groups generally include representatives from the farming community, local and central government agencies, environmental organisations (including Ecologic Foundation, Forest and Bird, Fish and Game Council), and other agribusiness and research organisations. Funding has come from central government and local government programmes, industry (Meat New Zealand), AGMARDT, research agencies, and various agribusiness participants.
Once established, the groups’ challenge has been to identify, and where possible measure, environmental issues within the resources available. Without exception all groups have successfully identified issues such as soil compaction, water quality, soil fertility, water use, soil erosion, etc. It has been more difficult, however, to quantify the gains in improvement from developing systems or programmes to address these issues. The difficulties arise from both timeframes and the cost of developing appropriate monitoring
The Westview/Gwavas programme in the Manawatu/Hawkes Bay is a good example of a focus farm getting positive results. The group began researching soil types in the area before developing paddock-scale land management units. The units are designed to give information on soil features which will help minimise or eliminate adverse soil impacts.
The group then implemented a monitoring programme, based on the land management units,
to measure surface water quality and soil loss by erosion, as well as the extent of
compaction and pugging. The effect
on soil structure for the various stock types and stock policies was assessed.
As a result of the monitoring programme, the most environmentally sustainable stock
management policies were established for the various stock classes. As the programme
progressed there was a greater understanding and acceptance of the issue from both the
farming and non-farming group members.
It is also worth noting that in the process of developing and monitoring this programme other significant environmental issues were identified and addressed. These included shade and shelter for landscape values and natural wildlife habitats. While the emphasis in most of these focus farm programmes has been towards environmental issues, economic issues were always present.
The Winton Southland Dairy Sustainability focus farm is another good example. It has been addressing the special issues associated with dairying on the heavy Southland soils. These issues include soil compaction (especially related to the long winters), shed effluent disposal (especially on tile-drained land), nitrogen leaching to sub-surface water resources, and riparian management. The group has already made excellent progress in assessing soil quality and nitrogen effects.
Pastoral farming is not the only area to adopt the focus farm approach. Three focus orchard programmes have also been established in Hawke’s Bay, Nelson and Central Otago. They are addressing significant environmental outcomes such as spray application efficiency and soil and water management. Again the three community groups have been instrumental in identifying the relevant indicators and developing systems to monitor them.
The development and adoption of environmental outcomes have not been confined to focus farm members. The groups have been explaining the issues to many farmers and growers at field days.
As the number of focus farm groups grow we can be optimistic that the development of new sustainable land management systems will continue to deliver environ-mental outcomes. In the future we may also see existing discussion groups and the "Monitor Farm" programme addressing these issues.
 |
Barrie Wallace Regional Team Leader, Policy Information, Palmerston North Barrie’s experience covers 24 years in MAF’s Advisory and Research Divisions in Otago, the East Coast of the North Island, its International Business Unit in Head Office and MAF Policy in the lower half of the North Island. He is currently MAF’s representative on RMA matters in Taranaki. |
Contact for Enquiries
Amber Duncalfe
Editor - RM Update
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Tel: +64 4 894 0710
Fax: +64 4 894 0745
Contact this person
