E-news Number 23 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:

• Launch of the 2009 funding round
• Key dates in 2009
• Local meetings for potential applicants
• Community water management in the Taieri
• Energy farming with willow in New Zealand
• Changing attitudes towards dryland farming
• A helping hand with issues on the land: New Zealand Conservation Volunteers

Launch of the 2009 funding round

The 2009 funding round is now open. Applications close on Thursday 5 February 2009.

As in 2008, there are two portfolios of funding:

A: Sustainable Farming Fund - main fund ($9.5 million available per year)

The purpose of the SFF is to support the financial, environmental and social performance of New Zealand's productive land-based sectors. It does this by funding projects that are:

• based around solving problems, or taking up opportunities, related to sustainable resource use; and
• defined and driven by a farmer, grower or forester-led Community of Interest.

B: Sustainable Farming Fund - Climate Change fund (SFF-CC) (approx $2.25 million available per year)

This is a dedicated fund enabling primary land-based industries to respond and adapt to the challenge of climate change. This initiative is part of MAF's Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change Plan of Action.

You now use the same application form for both portfolios (SFF and climate change). The closing date and assessment process for the two portfolios is the same.

Applications for small projects (total SFF contribution of $20 000 or under) are on a separate application form. These applications go through a one-phase assessment process, with the results announced in early April.

Click here to download the Under $20 000 application form from the SFF website.

Applications for projects requesting $20 000 to $200 000 per year go through a two stage assessment process. The Phase I application form is designed to give a succint overview of the project. If successful at Phase I, applicants will be asked to submit a more detailed proposal to the Phase II panel.

Click here to download the Over $20 000 application form from the SFF website.

What else do you need to know?

The Guidelines outlining the application process and criteria have been revised and can be downloaded from the SFF website by clicking here. Read these guidelines first before submitting your application.

If you have any questions about the application process, or your eligibility to apply, please contact an SFF project advisor or call us on 0800 100 087. First time applicants are encouraged to speak to a project advisor.

The Phase I application form has been revised from previous years. The aim is to allow applicants to briefly describe their project and to better match the application form to the criteria. Keep your application to no more than four pages at Phase I!

Remember that the SFF is consistently oversubscribed; well regarded proposals may not be funded due to the lack of funds available.

Interested in finding out more?

Media release for SFF launch 14 November 2008 - click here.

Check out the projects that have been funded in the past by clicking here.

Key dates in 2009

Local meetings for potential applicants

SFF project advisors are organising informal information sessions in November and early December to allow groups interested in applying to the 2009 funding round to discuss project ideas and potential applications with a project advisor. To find out about an information session in your region, contact your local project advisor or Amanda Hall on 0800 100 087.

Community water management in the Taieri

The Strath and Upper Taieri areas of Otago have low rainfall (350 mm per year average) so access to water is crucial. Mining rights, which give access to water, expire in 2021 and the current resource of the Taieri river is "over-allocated".

The Upper Taieri Water Management Steering Group began an SFF project in 2007 to work towards community water resource management. The group has made significant progress on the complex issues of fair allocation and management of water for production, as well as the management of the river for wider values, for example, recreation or environmental values. Often these two processes are seen as "ships in the night" taking two different pathways involving different players.

The project began with the establishment of a management group involving a wide range of farming and interest groups. The group produced a report on the water management system in the Tairei, and communicated the results through a catchment newsletter and website. Farmers, and representatives from iwi, Fish and Game, DOC and Regional Council have come together through subcatchment field days to discuss water use and potential ways to work together and manage the resource. This community catchment management approach with the engagement of the wider community is seen as key to successful water management in the Taieri.

Strath Taieri field day (photo courtesy Gretchen Robertson, NZ Landcare Trust)

The group was invited to take a lead role in the Otago Water Forum with regards to future community water management in Otago. The next stage is to develop a shared vision for water management in the Upper Taieri (with subcatchments having diverse organisations within this), investigating the potential of further storage options, and on-going liaison with the Regional Council to support community management systems.

Interested in finding out more?

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

Energy farming with willow in New Zealand

Cultivating willow for biomass is new in New Zealand, although willow is being used overseas as a dedicated energy crop, mostly to fuel municipal heating plants and to produce heat and power. In this country, short rotation willow biomass has potential using transformational technology. Willow biomass can be used for production of ethanol for fuel, lignin for the production of biopolymers and xylose for food sweetening, with secondary uses as fuel in cogeneration plants (heat and energy generation) and stock fodder.

A recent SFF project evaluated short rotation coppice willow in Taupo as a potential land use that could:

• be commercially viable;
• reduce nitrogen leaching into Lake Taupo;
• provide feedstock for production of second generation ethanol and natural lignin.

Early trials of short rotation willow established at Hauhangaroa 2C (Taupo's Western Bay) in 2004 showed promise, so a large scale science-based trial was established in 2005 supported by SFF, Environment Waikato and local Maori landowners (Hauhangaroa 2C Incorporation and Tauhara 3B Trust). Other project partners included Lake Taupo Development Company and Pure Power Technology, with Scion and HortResearch providing science expertise.

The final project field day took place in early July this year. Over 50 people, including landowners interested in finding out about options for alternative land use, attended this event. Researchers presented the results of the trials and discussed the potential of willow as a biomass crop. The booklet, Energy Farming with Willow in New Zealand, was handed out. This booklet summarises the knowledge gained to date on growing willow in New Zealand including establishment, management, markets, harvesting, pest and disease control and ecological considerations.

Interested in finding out more?

The booklet Energy Farming with Willow in New Zealand is available as a downloadable pdf by clicking here.

For information about the project Energy farming to protect Lake Taupo from the SFF website click here.

Changing attitudes towards dryland farming

A recently completed project has informed many New Zealand farmers about adapting their dryland farms to climate change. Titled Changing attitude and practices for farming dry land in Marlborough this project involved a practical case study on a property owned by Doug Avery which is situated in the Starborough-Flaxbourne district. The project commenced in 2005 supported by the New Zealand Landcare Trust, Marlborough District Council, Starborough Flaxbourne Soil Conservation Group and local farmers and community.

As the project progressed, interest by farmers and others in the Starborough-Flaxbourne catchment developed. Many interviews, field days, and other events were held over the project term. The final field day held in May 2008 at Doug Avery's property was attended by over 400 people from all over New Zealand.

Trial property showing salt bush in foreground with worked up land in background about to be sowed in lucerne. (Photo courtesy Penny Wardle)

The project has been such a success farmers from Australia have contacted Doug to discuss the application of methods to their own situations or visited the property through recently held field days. Not just farmers are interested in this projects results, local and regional councils have identified options that could apply to various other regions in New Zealand. The property has also been visited by Government officials and has been promoted as a way towards adapting farming practices towards a more sustainable future.

The project's final outcome is a 43 page booklet which has recently been published. This booklet provides a summary of the projects background, aims, methods and outcomes. Six chapters written by various people associated with the project are included and focus on different topics covered during the three years.

Interested in finding out more?

The chapters of the booklet Beyond Reasonable Drought - Adapting Dryland Farming to Climate Change (August 2008) can be downloaded as pdfs from the Marlborough District Council website by clicking here.

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

A helping hand with issues on the land

Conservation Volunteers New Zealand (CVNZ) is a charitable trust that attracts and manages teams of volunteers to help support projects for the betterment of the environment. A key part of this is assisting rural communities with projects that minimise the impact of agriculture on the environmental health of the land and waterways. Typically these might be erosion issues, riparian plantings for water quality purposes, fencing for stock exclusion, and maintenance of native forest areas. CVNZ is seeking farming partnerships as part of a Wetlands programme to preserve threatened habitats.

CVNZ teams number between 6 and 10 people plus a Team Leader. The teams come with their own insurance, catering, OSH processes, transport, basic tools and supervision. As a fully supervised team, farmers are able to get on with the farming while at the same time knowing that the team is addressing some of the priority land management issues on their property.

Interested in finding out more?

Check out the Conservation Volunteers website

For more information call Martin Pepperell on 09 376 7040 or 021 966 159 (email mpepperell@conservationvolunteers.co.nz)

Ending

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Kia rongo korero ano matou i a koutou

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