Farmers keen to make a difference with practical solutions

An opportunity to share some ‘good, practical solutions’. That was the main reason for upper Aparima farmer Paul Turner and Otapiri Gorge farmer Dan Frew to put their hands up to join the Southland winter grazing advisory group.

Winter grazing rules developed by central Government were announced in August as part of a new National Environmental Standard for Freshwater, and it was met with some frustration. Many farmers in particular are concerned about the rules and are keen to offer alternative solutions. As Paul says, his family has a strong connection to their waterways not only for the farm but also for their recreation, and ‘we want to protect them as much as anybody else does’.

When Ministers David Parker and Damien O’Connor left the ‘door ajar for feedback on the rules’ Paul and Dan took the opportunity to be involved.

“I felt quite strongly about some of the rules that have been put in place,” Paul says. “They couldn’t be applied practically, and I felt there were some better solutions that would have better outcomes that I was happy to be part of.”

paul-turner — Paul and Kayleen Turner with their children (left-right) Bonnie (12), Holly (6), Isla (10) and Jack (8).

Environment Southland hosted a hui attended by the ministers and around 30 farmers. One of the outcomes from the hui was to establish a winter grazing advisory group which would include farmers, council staff, rural sector representatives and representatives from Fish and Game and iwi.

Paul says it was an opportunity to put their case forward.

Paul, wife Kayleen and their four children run a 1200 hectare dairy farm in the Opio area in the upper Aparima catchment. They have around 1900 milking cows, and winter graze around 3000 cattle. He thought his experience farming sheep, beef and deer before turning his hand to dairy farming would mean he could have some good, practical input.

Dan farms in the Otapiri Gorge area on a 1050 hectare sheep farm. It’s very much a family affair with fiancée Steph and their three children, brother Brett and his family, as well as their parents all involved in the running of the property.

“I saw this as an opportunity to help share our evidence and experience with others, learning from what we’ve done here,” Dan says. “Lots of the rules are actually impractical and that might drive the wrong choices to get around the rules.”

That’s a concern shared by Paul who agrees that some of the rules could lead to unintended consequences.

“That’s why I think it’s important to get the rules right, so that people aren’t dancing around trying to solve an unworkable rule. If we’re dealing with practical solutions that can be implemented on farm, that have a benefit to waterways and the animals, well that’s a good thing,” Paul says.

Both believe that being involved in this group, and sharing the improvements they’re making is a step in the right direction.

Paul’s farm has large native buffers along the creeks, 27kms of fencing along all his waterways and new native plantings where willows were damaging water flow and bank stability.

They have just completed their second year of wintering their cows on grass and baleage rather than crop. “We’ve substituted around 100 hectares of fodder beet. It means we have a lot less exposed soil in the winter time. Cows are on more suitable country and we can target where we are feeding. It’s still very much a work in progress but we’re pleased with the results so far.”

Recognising that they’re susceptible to thunder storms and heavy spring rains, Dan has also made changes to his winter cropping programme in the last couple of years.

“We’ve always been careful about critical source areas and had wide buffers. We’ve used direct drilling for our crop, but more recently we’ve started coming in behind the sheep after grazing with the direct drill to resow quickly. This helps to manage the risk of bare soil and sediment loss. We put in swedes and kale, intermingled with a mix of Italian rye grass and plantain. It’s beneficial to the animals and the environment, and by minimising cultivation it means there are less tractor hours and less cost.”

Dan wants to see everyone working together. “That’s central government, local government, contractors and farmers. There’s good that can come from this, and we need to share and support each other to get the best outcome. We all want the same things – we just need to work together to get them.”

Winter grazing recommendations

The report from the winter grazing advisory group is due to be complete in early December. The specific areas they are considering include:

Re-sowing dates
Pugging
Slope
Area
Farm Environment Plans

Members of the group are Environment Southland, DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb NZ, Bernadette Hunt from Federated Farmers, Fish and Game, iwi and farmers Dan Frew and Paul Turner. They are supported by representatives from Local Government New Zealand, the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Ministry for the Environment.

You can read the full Envirosouth magazine as a PDF online here.

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Farmers keen to make a difference with practical solutions

Winter grazing recommendations

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Farmers keen to make a difference with practical solutions

Winter grazing recommendations

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