- Objective Title:Developing sustainable orchard production systems
- Objective Title:Integrating and measuring sustainability practices
- Objective Title:Economic analysis of production systems
- Objective Title:Spaced tree/pasture based hill-farm systems
8.5 - Agriculture/horticulture systems
8.5.1
| Objective Title:Developing sustainable orchard production systems Research Leader: Dr J Walker Institution:HortResearch |
This research will be conducted at three sites; Hawkes Bay, Canterbury and Central Otago. The three systems are; Conventional (current industry practice), Integrated (limited use of selective and low impact pesticides, disease monitoring, non-residual herbicides) and Biological ("organic"). The treatments are already established at these sites but funding is sought to expand monitoring and measurement of sustainability indicators for fruit productionsystems. This includes further development of practical biological monitoring systems for sustainable orchard management based on methods the researchers have developed in experimental programmes. Identification and commencement of measurement of appropriate sustainability indicators eg. undertaking nitrate analyses from soil and soil water samples from each orchard production system.
8.5.2
| Objective Title:Integrating and measuring sustainability practices Research Leader: Mr J Hughes Institution:HortResearch |
Discrete techniques, reflecting "Best practice" in orchard management, will be developed into an integrated orchard management system for New Zealand pipfruit orchards. This will include integrating pest and disease recommendations, orchard design and maintenance practices into a unified management system. A system for scoring New Zealand fruitgrowers performance with sustainability practices will also be developed from a review of similar systems developed in North America and elsewhere. This will be a points-based system, for sustainable management practices in pipfruit, could be readily adapted for other horticultural crops eg. kiwifruit and summerfruit.
8.5.3
| Objective Title:Economic analysis of production systems Research Leader: Dr D Suckling Institution:HortResearch |
HortResearch, in conjunction with an economist from the Agribusiness Economics Research Unit (Lincoln University), will provide a cost-benefit analysis of the three management systems referred to in 8.5.1. This analysis will focus on the environmental costs and benefits of each production system. There will be an analysis of the cost benefits on transition to sustainable management practices which will help to identify tangible economic benefits and intangible benefits to other sectors, such as tourism etc.
8.5.43
| Objective Title: Spaced tree/pasture based hill-farm systems Research Leader: Dr A Mackay Institution/Business: AgResearch, Grasslands Division |
Aim:Develop whole farm packages for managing spaced tree/pasture based systems in order to sustain and enhance hill land pastoral farming by;
- the state of knowledge of the interactions between space planted conservation hardwood trees, legume based pastures and the grazing animal; and
- from an on-farm case study at a site with a 25 year-old space poplar/pasture system grazed by sheep and cattle, the effect of spaced trees on key water, soil and pasture characteristic’s.
Contact for Enquiries
Farm Monitoring Programme Manager
Monitoring and Evaluation
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0623
Fax: +64 4 894 0741
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