E-news Number 25 for project teams and all those interested in Sustainable Farming in New Zealand

Dear all                He mihi nui ki a koutou

In this edition of E-news:

• 2009 funding round now being assessed
• E-news survey - please complete
• Project managers - your reporting and web summaries are due
• Biogas in the pork industry
• Better tasting persimmons
• Deer focus farms - making a difference to the deer industry
• Healthy Hoof programme

2009 funding round now being assessed

A total of 204 applications were received by the closing date of 5 February requesting a total of over $38 million in SFF grant funding. Of these, 166 applied to the general SFF portfolio, and 38 applied for funding out of the climate change portfolio.

Many applicants made use of the SFF project advisers in the weeks leading up to closing date to ensure the applications matched the SFF criteria.

What happens next?

The assessment panel will meet during the last week of March to recommend a shortlist of projects to go through to Phase 2, and to decide which under $20,000 projects will be recommended for funding. All applicants will be advised of these decisions by email and mail in early April.

E-news Survey

We are interested to hear your feedback on this SFF email newsletter. Could you please take a couple of minutes to fill in the questions below and then press the SUBMIT button - Thanks!

Project managers - your reporting and web summaries are due

Progress reports and request for payment forms for the period ending 28 February are due on 13 March.

The web update section is not being completed as well as it could be by some groups. Remember this is the "public face" to your project (and the SFF) so use the web page to inform others of what your group is doing and to share the information. We appreciate that in some reporting periods there will be less to report on than in others but please make sure you include the following:

• A concise update of the project relating to the reporting period (not just a general project summary each time). This may include project results and photos.
• Any relevant links to website, documents, posters etc from that period.

Please discuss this reporting with your project adviser should you have any questions.

Biogas in the pork industry

A recently completed project has informed many in the New Zealand pork industry about opportunities for the development of biogas systems. Titled "Waste to Wealth" this project was about identifying opportunities for biogas production using pig manure as the primary source.

The project commenced in July 2007 and was funded by New Zealand Pork and the Sustainable Farming Fund. A NZ Pork Biogas Seminar was held in December 2008 to present the findings. This seminar was well attended by representatives from various industry bodies, businesses, and local and regional government.

The project consisted of five milestones which included identifying key organisations and technical advisers and local and international case studies. A scoping exercise assessed the resources and expertise available and outlined further steps in the feasibility process.

The project's final milestone was the completion of a 60+ page booklet. The booklet provides interesting reading on the uptake of farm biogas systems internationally, and recommendations for supporting the uptake of biogas systems on New Zealand farms. Details of case studies, seminar presentations and information sheets are included.

As a result of the interest and outcomes generated through the SFF project, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) is now funding the New Zealand Pork Industry to undertake site-specific feasibility studies in a number of regions.

Interested in finding out more?

For further information regarding this project, contact the project leader Liz McGruddy at Massey University on email e.mcgruddy@massey.ac.nz

To read more about this project on the SFF website click here.

Better tasting persimmons

In 2003, New Zealand persimmon growers suffered from poor market returns. Market feedback from that season indicated the fruit lacked sweetness and was high in tannins. It is the tannins that cause the astringent or dry sensation in your mouth (you can get this same sensation from drinking strong black tea or red wine which also contain tannins). These low returns united the New Zealand persimmon industry resulting in an industry strategic plan that gave priority to addressing the taste issues. This lead to a three year SFF project "Improving Taste in Persimmons", co-funded by the Persimmon Industry Council.

After four seasons of on-orchard and post-harvest trials - undertaken by Plant and Food Research in conjunction with industry - growers and post-harvest operators now have some clear strategies to maximise the fruit soluble solids (linked to sweetness) and minimise fruit astringency. These have been summarised as a grower Best Practice Guide, which can be downloaded from the SFF website. The best practice messages have also been communicated through the industry conferences and a series of regional roadshows.

Best practice strategies for improving persimmon taste are summarised as:

• Harvest fruit at an average maturity of colour grade 5.5; avoid harvesting fruit below colour grade 5.0.
• Maintain an open canopy through pruning strategies (winter and summer).
• Leaf thin in the period from January to 2 - 4 weeks before harvest to acheive significant effects on external fruit quality, improve packouts and reduce postharvest losses.
• Implement fruit thinning to appropriate level.
• Use reflective mulch to increase canopy temperatures.
• Undertake postharvest curing at packhouse of 4 - 7 days at approximately 15 degrees C, if fruit have astringency at harvest.

The last few years have seen an improvement in persimmon grower returns - understanding the practices that can lead to improved fruit taste helped achieve such positive results.

Interested in finding out more?

The Best Practice Guide from Improving Persimmon Taste can be downloaded from the SFF website by clicking here.

To read more about this project on the SFF website click here.

Deer Focus Farms - making a difference to the deer industry

The "Focus on Deer" project was developed to help farmers with their concerns of reduced profitability, production inefficiencies and envrionmental sustainability. Two properties - Totara Hills in Otago and Coleraine in Southland - have been the focus farms for this project over the past three years.

At both farms the productivity and environmental status was assessed and monitored as changes were made. Both farms increased their financial and management performance and at the same time were able to address impacts on the environment. Some of the key productivity practices leading to an improved bottom line are:

• Genetics based on breeding values
• Wintering systems
• Pregnancy scanning
• Weaning weight
• Growing out weaners
• Animal health practices

Key environmental practices that can make a difference are summarised as:

• Planning
• Fencing and planting riparian areas
• Ponds - fencing and planting
• Wallows - siting to avoid runoff
• Fertiliser use - nutrient budgeting
• Good winter management
• Animal behaviour management
• Biodiversity
• Waste disposal
• On-going monitoring

Water quality discussions at a deer focus farm field day

An important aspect of this project was to evaluate how successful the focus farm approach was in leading to changes in behaviour on-farm. Thirty farmers from Southland and Otago were interviewed in 2006 and 2008 - of these 70 percent visited a focus farm at least once, and 93 percent valued the information from the focus farm. Those who regularly attended the focus farm field days made an average of 4.6 changes to their farm as a result; those who only read the focus farm newsletter made an average of two changes to their farm. Highlights for focus farm attendees were:

• social aspects of the days (100%);
• seeing changes on the host farm (91%);
• assessing if the expert's ideas worked (71%);
• learning new ideas and practices (67%).

This type of evaluation is useful in assessing "what works?" and "are we making a difference?" - important elements of all SFF projects.

Interested in finding out more?

Productivity key practices fact sheet click here
Environmental key practices fact sheet click here
Have deer focus farms made a difference? poster click here
For more information about this project on the SFF website click here.

Healthy Hoof programme

In 2005, a group of dairy farmers, vets and lameness experts got together to tackle the issue of non-nutritional lameness in dairy cows. Lameness was not only an animal welfare concern but was also costing farmers time and money. The knowledge existed on how to manage the physical factors causing lameness but this needed to be turned into on-farm action.

As a result, the Healthy Hoof programme was developed. It translates existing knowledge on lameness, based on work by specialist vet Neil Chersterton, into best management practices on-farm. Supported by a set of easy-to-use resources (booklets, posters and DVDs), farmers worked with trained providers to identify the factors that were influencing lameness on their farm. This training, along with a customised plan, helped farmers to take action on their farm.

The programme was led by Dairy NZ and used the local veterinary networks. Vets were trained to lead farmers through five key steps:

• Step One: Diagnosis and action plan
• Step Two: Skill development
• Step Three: Monitoring and recording of lame cows
• Step Four: Six monthly update
• Step Five: Review season and action plan

Forty farms across New Zealand were initially involved in the programme and now have long-term action plans in place. Feedback from the farmers involved help shape the final programme which was launched in April 2008. The programme is now available, at a small cost, to all dairy farmers across New Zealand.

Photo courtesy Dairy NZ

Interested in finding out more?

To read more about this project on the SFF website click here.

If you are interested in taking part in the programme click here.

Ending

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Kia rongo korero ano matou i a koutou

Kind regards
Amanda, Denis, Diana, Helen, Janine, Louise, and Nic.