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The Challenge! A personal perspective

The Challenge! A personal perspective. I believe: Every farmer needs to be on path of continual improvement around nutrient efficiency. That protection and improvement of water quality is a good thing. That there is still much we do not understand, particularly about groundwater.

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The Challenge! A personal perspective

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  1. The Challenge!A personal perspective • I believe: • Every farmer needs to be on path of continual improvement around nutrient efficiency. • That protection and improvement of water quality is a good thing. • That there is still much we do not understand, particularly about groundwater.

  2. I am concerned about the increasing gap between rich & poor. I believe that Maori cultural & economic renaissance is a good for NZ, I sympathise with Maori position on water. My economic wellbeing is off no consequence. The collective economic wellbeing of a community is critical to addressing social issues.

  3. However • But I do feel threatened and isolated by the impact of likely changes around N loss. • This is a sensitive catchment with : • High rainfall, - >1500 mm • Free draining soils - Pumice • High natural water quality.

  4. The Challenge • 30% of Horizons farmers @ 30kgs/ha N loss or over, 92% of CP at 30kgs/ha N or over. • If 30kgs N loss ha becomes the target then grass based farming will cease on the Tokoroa Plateau. (rainfall dependant) My view.

  5. Other Nitrate levels

  6. What we have done: • Stocking rate from 2.9 cows - 2.2 cows/ha. • Reduced N applied from 240kgs to (120-140)kgs/ha • Have improved per cow performance from 360kgs to 490 kgs/cow, • Feeds inputs primarily 120 round bales hay & 60 t PKE • Have improved per hectare from 900 to over 1200 kgs back to 1100kgs/ha • Financially performed at top end based on Dairybase. • Have targeted 30kgs N/ha loss • We are one of lowest leaching farms on the Tokoroa Plateau.

  7. Options for us: • Winter cows off on another property, • Lay down concrete and intensify back to 3 cows – 4 cows ha, • Exit

  8. We need good policy • Based on facts - not models, • Based on statistically significant data sets. • Everyone moving the same direction, • A balance between the goals otherwise it will be the poorest who suffer. • I am looking to collect 200-300 financial data sets, • Collect the plans for each of those farms to reach a N/loss target, • Costs/benefits of the required changes, • Full economic analysis of impacts by the likes of BERL • Timeline – as soon as can get support.

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