Council farm plans help farmers get ahead of the game

A Taranaki farmer says getting a free Council farm plan and accessing erosion support funding was a “no-brainer”.

Taranaki Regional Council is urging hill country farmers to seize the opportunity before Freshwater Farm Plans become compulsory.

Ben Murphy’s beef and sheep farm sits on 532ha of steep hill country on the southern outskirts of Waverley.

The Council has been working with Ben since 2015, when he first heard about the Ministry of Primary Industries’ Hill Country Erosion Fund available through the Council’s South Taranaki and Regional Erosion Support Scheme.

In order to access the funding, Ben teamed up with the Council to develop a comprehensive farm plan.

Ben’s plan tackles issues like hillslope stabilisation, gully erosion, farm shelter, pasture improvement, bush retirement, fencing subdivision and wetland conservation.

“Some parts of the farm are so scaly, steep and gnarly that they’re just not productive in a pastoral sense,” Ben explains.

“Ten to 15 years from now you might not have soil to plant on. You see it more and more, big areas just letting go and it all ends up in the waterways.”

So Ben began to revert and diversify unstable slopes with mānuka and pine afforestation.

Five years, 58.4ha of planting and close to $100,000 of Government funding later, Ben is not only well ahead of upcoming regulations – but he’s able to focus on the more productive areas of his land and even save on land management costs.

“It turns out the least productive land costs the most to maintain. I’m spending a quarter of what I used to on weed control and helicopter spraying.

“I often tell my neighbours about the funding they can access through the Council’s farm plans. It’s a no-brainer really.”

Council Land Services Manager Don Shearman says the increasing number of Government regulations and associated costs will impact hill country farms, in particular, the compulsory Freshwater Farm Plan (FWFP) framework to address sediment and other contaminants. This is expected within the next year or two.

“Our comprehensive farm plans will significantly help farmers meet the FWFP requirements, at no cost. It’s a win-win.”

Erosion support funding is available until 2024 for eastern Taranaki hill country farmers with Council farm plans.

For more information call 0800 736 222 or email hillcountry@trc.govt.nz

Ben Murphy’s farm has been in the family for over 100 years. His father Kevin Murphy was one of the first farmers to implement a Council farm plan in 1997.