Totara could be part of the water quality answer:
Tōtara oil and milk might seem strange companions – but a project currently under way could one day see both become products emanating from dairy farms.
The pairing is just one option that could stem from a project looking at productive riparian buffers – native and/or exotic planting that can not only promote better water quality in New Zealand waterways but also create new income streams for farmers.
“We know riparian planting benefits the environment by reducing nutrient losses into farm waterways,” says Electra Kalaugher, senior land and water management specialist at DairyNZ. “However, riparian planting can often mean a loss of productive land for farmers.
“Productive riparian buffers are different – and the project is exploring new and existing plant product options and their ability to deliver environmental, social, cultural and financial benefits.” . .
Top RWNZ award for shearer – Annette Scott:
A competitive and world record-holding shearer, Sarah Higgins’ passion for shearing has earned her a top award at the NZI Rural Women NZ 2020 Business Awards. She talked with Annette Scott.
SARAH Higgins’ Marlborough-based shearing business breaks all the stereotypes of how a shearing crew might look and behave.
“We strive to break through the status quo of the shearing industry,” Higgins said.
And, it was her passion and commitment to harness her love of the land that has her Higgins Shearing business now firmly rooted in its local community. . .
Farming through the generations – Colin Williscroft:
Members of Guy Bell’s family have been farming in Hawke’s Bay for five generations, with his sons making it six. Colin Williscroft reports.
The Bells are a family that farms four properties across Hawke’s Bay, from the Central Hawke’s Bay coast to the foothills of the Ruahines.
Guy Bell is the fifth generation of his family on his mother’s side to farm in the area, and the second on his father’s side.
He has two brothers and a sister who also farm in the district. . .
Cut flower farming grew after few seeds planted – Mark Price:
Anna Mackay, of Spotts Creek Station in the Cardrona Valley, has diversified into cut flowers. She described to Mark Price her experiences so far.
During a family holiday in Matakana a few years back, I purchased a book called The Cut Flower Garden by Erin Benzakein, of Floret Farms, in the United States, and I was totally inspired by her story.
In my past life, I have owned a florist’s shop, have been heavily involved with interior design, worked alongside Annabel Langbein as her prop stylist during her ‘‘free-range cook series’’ and, in later years, operated an event-styling company, Barefoot Styling, with good friend Sarah Shore.
When the younger of our two sons started school in September 2016 I wanted to slow my life down. . .
Rangiora’s Luisetti Seeds’ warehouses, seed clearing facilities and silos are a constant reminder to locals of the town’s long agricultural history.
The family business was established by Vincent Luisetti in 1932 and while it may be 88 years old, the company is in expansion-mode and is investing in state-of-the art seed cleaning technology.
Edward Luisetti, Vincent’s grandson and Luisetti Seeds managing director says the company is in the process of installing the highest capacity ryegrass and cereal seed cleaning facility outside of America. It will be located in Ashburton.
The machinery has been purchased from Germany and initially, Covid delays put a spanner in the works. . .
Are cows getting a bad rap when it comes to climate change? – Stu McNish:
A leading climate scientist, Myles Allen, believes the effect of cattle on climate change has been overstated.
“The traditional way of accounting for methane emissions from cows overstates the impact of a steady herd by a factor of four.”
That’s a problem, says Allen. “If we are going to set these very ambitious goals to stop global warming, then we need to have accounting tools that are fit for purpose. … The errors distort cows’ contributions — both good and bad — and, in doing so, give CO2 producers a free pass on their total GHG contribution.”
Allen is a heavyweight in climate circles. The BBC described him as the physicist behind Net Zero. In 2005, he proposed global carbon budgets and in 2010, he received the Appleton medal and prize from the Institute of Physics for his work in climate sciences. . .
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