Ag experts dive into Extension 350
More than two dozen agricultural industry, rural professionals and local authority staff gathered near Whangarei recently to learn more about a farmer-led programme designed to lift profitability, environmental sustainability and wellbeing on Northland farms.
Extension 350, launched in 2016 to help Northland farmers share knowledge and gain access to specialist advice, is part of the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan, and is supported by Northland Inc, the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Northland Regional Council, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb NZ.
Regional council chairman Bill Shepherd, himself a dairy farmer, said the five-year project aimed to have 10 ‘clusters’ of farmers (three sheep/beef and seven dairy) up and running by 2018/19, with seven clusters already involved.
“E350’s point of difference is that it’s very much farmerfocused, on the farm and for the farmer,” he said.
“Each cluster has five target farmers who work one-on-one with a mentor farmer and consultant. After six months, five associate farmers are invited to learn alongside the target farmer.”
Mr Shepherd said the E350 field day, which had been split between the council’s poplar and willow nursery at Mata and Bruce and Julie Paton’s Ruakaka dairy farm, had been a real success. Participants included farm consultants, the regional council, DairyNZ, Fonterra, Beef + Lamb NZ, Living Waters and the E350 project team.
“The first couple of hours were spent talking about some of the issues and opportunities looming for the industry in terms of environmental sustainability, and viewing the nursery, before heading to the Patons’ farm,” he added.
“The focus there was further developing practical application of environmental challenges and understanding the farmer’s journey.”
Discussion topics at Mata had included an update on the E350 programme itself, including what had been learned and achieved to date, and resources and tools available to help farmers reduce their environmental footprint.
Speakers had outlined developments and upcoming changes at a regional level, including general land management and climate change issues, as well as regional and national plans and what impacts they would, or could, have in Northland.
Council staff had also walked participants through the 10ha nursery, helping them understand the potential poplars offered for erosion control.
The subsequent on-farm component at Ruakaka had traversed a broad range of areas, including land use options, forestry, best practice cultivation guidelines, drain and race management, riparian management and weed control, effluent ponds and farm dairy effluent management.
Dairy NZ regional sustainability leader Helen Moodie says because the programme looked to lift the environmental sustainability of each farm, as well as their profitability and wellbeing, there was a valuable opportunity to build relationships and understanding with farmers, consultants, industry organisations and the council.
General information about the E350 project is available at www.northlandnz.com/extension 350.
Mr Shepherd said the project was currently looking for dairy farmers to join clusters in the Far North and the Maungaturoto/Ruawai areas, and for sheep and beef farmers in the Mid North and southern parts of the region.
Anyone seeking more information, or who was keen join a cluster, could contact Extension 350 project manager Luke Beehre (luke.beehre@ northlandnz.com).