Action network helping southern farmers

Getting access to high-level expertise is giving some Southland farmers confidence to make changes and achieve their goals – an opportunity not to be missed, say Southland rural consultants.

Deane Carson and Allison Knowler of Agribusiness Consultants are facilitating four local Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP) Action Groups under the RMPP Action Network, a model for supporting small groups of farmers to turn ideas into action on-farm. Kick-start funding is provided.

‘‘The really big change for all these farmers has been getting access to very high-level expertise in a targeted way on topics that they have determined,’’ says Deane, a rural consultant for 13 years.

‘‘When you get the right expert coming into a small group of farmers, a lot of powerful sharing of ideas happens and that is giving farmers real confidence.’’

Each of the four Southland action groups addresses very specific issues identified by farmers; pasture longevity, legume systems, automatic lamb feeders and water quality.

There are also three further groups in the pipeline needing the requisite seven to nine farm businesses to be eligible for kickstart funding of $4,000 per farm business, pooled for the group to pay for a facilitator and expert advice.

‘‘Our major role as facilitators is to get farmers to put their ideas forward, to share information and to help identify the experts who can give them the information they need,’’ says Deane.

Through their backgrounds and connections, they are able to pull in some of New Zealand’s top agricultural researchers, such as leading farm systems scientist Tom Fraser, to visit the farms.

‘‘No farmer would expect to get an expert of Tom’s calibre coming to visit their farm and provide highly targeted insight’’, says Allison, an experienced rural consultant with a background as a Primary Industry Training Organisation teacher.

‘‘But when you’ve got six or seven farmers and funding, it happens.

‘‘Tom was just hounded with questions and the farmers virtually had a one-on-one experience, which you won’t get at a presentation with 100 other farmers.’’

But it’s not just about the expertise.

‘‘We know farmers like to learn from other farmers, to see what’s happening over the fence and give it a go on their own property.

‘‘That’s what’s happening with these groups in a very targeted way. Farmers are getting to see each other’s farms, comparing how things are done, seeing what works and what doesn’t. It’s bringing in new ideas and reinvigorating farmers’ drive to improve.

‘‘We’ve also got a massive age range in each group. We’ve got up and coming 30-year-olds who are challenging the 60-year olds and bringing in new ideas.’’

Data gathering and comparison is another tactic the groups are using to learn from each other and support change. For instance, the Automatic Lamb Feeder Group is building a dataset to maximise use of feeder machines.

‘‘We’re getting some fascinating data coming through from farmers on a range of factors from the age, weight and times lambs are put on the feeders and how much milk powder is used through to the growth rates,’’ says Deane.

‘‘It’s a dataset that doesn’t exist in New Zealand and farmers are really appreciating being able to compare what they are doing with others, being more critical of their own use and that is leading them to change their behaviour.’’

Likewise, the Pasture Persistence Group is now starting to collect clover growth results through the season to compare percentage cover between farms and identify how different practices affect growth.

It’s early days for the groups as they build data and knowledge and start implementing changes. But outcomes will occur over time, says Deane, who was part of the pilot programme that developed the Action Group model.

‘‘I’ve watched farmers implement a lot of big changes that have helped them make fantastic financial gains. That gives me confidence in this model, because I’ve seen it work.

‘‘It is early days yet with these groups, but the knowledge sharing, and learnings so far have been fantastic.’’

With funding available until June 2020, Deane is encouraging farmers to get involved in an Action Group.

‘‘What better opportunity will farmers ever have to get the information and support they need to overcome issues and make gains?’’

Further

RMPP

RMPP is a seven-year Primary Growth Partnership programme that is working to help the red meat sector increase productivity and profitability.

The programme is funded by ten partners – government and private sector (Ministry for Primary Industries, ANZ, Alliance, ANZCO, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Blue Sky Meats, Greenlea Premier Meats, Progressive Meats, Rabobank and Silver Fern Farms).

RMPP works alongside farmers and sector businesses to develop, test and introduce new ways of engaging with information and technology.

‘‘But when you’ve got six or seven farmers and funding, it happens. ‘‘Tom was just hounded with questions and the farmers virtually had a one-on-one experience, which you won’t get at a presentation with 100 other farmers.’’ Allison Knowler of Agribusiness Consultants.

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Getting access to high-level expertise is giving some Southland farmers confidence to make changes and achieve their goals – an opportunity not to be missed, say Southland rural consultants. Deane Carson and Allison Knowler of Agribusiness Consultants.