Integrated Farm Plan (IFP) lead consultant Paul Reese discusses IFP outcomes with Swannanoa farmer Andrew Gilchrist.

Swannanoa farmer Andrew Gilchrist has delved deep into the business and people side of his family-operated farm through completing an Integrated Farm Plan (IFP). Andrew is one of 15 Waimakariri farmers to develop an IFP as part of Next Generation Farming, a two-year innovation project led by Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT).

The main aim of the Next Generation Farming project is to help farmers explore and adopt ways of farming that are as profitably as possible within environmental limits. The project is supported by the Ministry for Primary Industries through its Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund, Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL), Environment Canterbury, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, and DairyNZ.

IFP project lead Paul Reese described the plan as the “next step up from a Farm Environment Plan.” It examines five areas of a farm operation including business, people, farm systems, the environment and animals and crops.

“Like an FEP, the IFP looks at the environment, but it takes a much broader view of the entire farm business and delves deeper into a broader range of key topics.

“During our interview with the farmer we go through a set of questions and then identify where the gaps are so we can find the appropriate expert to work with the farmer on these areas.

“In Andrew’s case we identified business and people as focus areas.”

Andrew says while the process was a bit nerve-wracking to begin with, receiving the plan and being able to access expert assistance has helped him and his brother to make progress on the business and people side of their farm operation.

The pair have 430 hectares of family owned and leased land which they use for dairy support, mixed cropping, and lamb finishing. They employ 15 staff and also operate a successful crop spraying business.

“We have grown very quickly over the last seven years from our original crop spraying business to owning and leasing farms, so everything has moved really fast.

“Doing the IFP has cemented our thoughts on governance being a key focus area for us and it has given us the push to get on with it and to establish a clearer structure around roles and responsibilities.

“We were able to look at who is responsible for each area of the farm business and make sure that we are clear on what that looks like.”

Paul says while every farm has different areas to work on after completing the plan, there are several common themes that have emerged.

“We have noticed that there are some gaps in the business and people areas. I think because farmers are practical people and are more focused on working in the business, it can be harder to find the time to work on the business.

“The IFP allows you to take a step back from your daily tasks and take a helicopter view to see if there are any gaps that need to be filled in. You get a clear picture of where the opportunities are to grow your farming operation.”

All the farmers who participated in the project have provided positive feedback on the IFP process and Paul says the IFP template is now being used by a wider group of farmers.

“It’s been really well received, and I think it will continue to be used more widely to provide a deeper overview of how a farm business is operating and then giving farmers the support and help they need to make improvements.”

Andrew recommends that farmers give the IFP a go and says that while there are some searching conversations to be had, the overall outcome is extremely positive.

“Just take the ball and run with it. There will be nothing but good that comes out of it, even if you do have to have a few courageous conversations along the way.”

The IFP process has provided participating farmers like Andrew with the opportunity to improve the profitability, resilience, and sustainability of their operations; better equipping them to meet the challenges of tougher environmental limits.

Penny and Gary Robinson have found that farmers using their subsurface drip irrigation system are saving on water and labour costs while growing more grass on their farms.

Gary and Penny Robinson have received positive feedback on water use efficiency and increased grass growth from Maniototo sharemilker, Luke Jeffries, after installing a Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) system on the Central Otago farm.

Gary and Penny are involved in a Next Generation Farming project designed to help farmers meet tough nitrate caps while maintaining their viability. As part of this project, the couple are using innovation to demonstrate productivity and environmental benefits to their neighbours in the region and beyond.

Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.

Gary says the SDI trial on a 15-hectare block of the Maniototo Dairy Partnership farm which Luke sharemilks has highlighted the benefits of the system during a sweltering Otago summer.

“Luke has seen a huge response with the SDI, and we will be able to gather data from this block as it has a sprinkler irrigation system in the next paddock. I think the data that comes out of this will be positive.”

For Luke, irrigation is essential for his sharemilking operation as he relies on it to grow the grass to feed 1000 dairy cows.

“We are 400 metres above sea level, and only get about 450 millimetres of rain per year. Temperatures can reach up to 35C in summer, so our evaporation levels are through the roof. With SDI the water is going straight to the root zone which means we’re not losing water to evaporation.”

Luke says while he hasn’t got dry matter samples to confirm his findings yet, he estimates water usage savings of 40 percent through the SDI system and increased grass growth rates of 10 to 20 percent.

“There’s more grass growth in the paddock with the SDI installed. Along with the water savings, we are also saving on labour and maintenance. The system is fully automated, so we don’t need anyone move it and the maintenance costs are minimal when compared to a pivot which has more wear and tear.”

Based on results to date, Luke says the farm’s owners are considering installing more subsurface drip irrigation in other parts of the farm which are not suitable for traditional irrigation to improve efficiency.

“SDI is all about efficiency and farmers are being driven to efficient use of resources. This is a way to reduce water use while still achieving good grass growth rates.”

Improved public awareness about SDI is one of the key changes Penny has noticed over the past two years.

“At the start of the project, most people didn’t know much about subsurface drip irrigation, but I think with the increased emphasis on efficient use of resources, people are more aware of the benefits of the system, not just for farming but also for recreational areas and for recycling wastewater in residential subdivisions.

“It’s now accepted as a viable option and as we continue to focus on using resources more efficiently, I think more people will consider SDI as a sustainable choice for the future.”

Fernside dairy farmer Julie Bradshaw has been empowered to make decisions on which cows to focus on by using genomic data.

Over the past two years, Fernside farmer Julie Bradshaw has refined her dairy herd size through the use of genomics while maintaining the same level of milk production.

Julie has been participating in a Next Generation Farming project designed to help farmers meet tough nitrate caps while maintaining their viability. As part of this project, farmers like Julie are using innovation to demonstrate productivity and environmental benefits to their neighbours in the region and beyond.

Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.

The biggest change Julie has made on her farm over the last two years is closely examining her herd selection process using genomic data.

Julie has already reduced her herd size by 15 cows and is planning to remove 10 of last year’s calves based on genomic data she has received from Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC). She credits the reliability of the information with helping her to make these science-based decisions.

“The advances in the data we are getting now, and the reliability of that data means that we can be certain about which animals to keep.

“There is no point paying for grazing for animals for three or four years that that don’t end up being productive dairy cows.

“With the reductions I have made I have still retained the same level of milk production, so I know I have made the right decision.”

In the past, Julie would have retained cows with low BW (Breeding Worth) but with the possibility of reductions in the numbers of cows on farms in the future, she wants to ensure that her herd is performing at its best.

“When you look at what is happening overseas you can see that farmers have already reduced their herd numbers and it is only a matter of time before it happens here.

“It is challenging but you need to look at your entire farming operation and see what you can do to farm more efficiently. With all the science and data that we can access now it makes sense to use all the tools you have in your toolbox.”

Julie says she believes genomics and scientific innovation will play an increasingly significant role in New Zealand farming in the future.

“When I look at the data I am getting now compared to a few years ago it is amazing. I think the data will continue to improve as more herds get involved and this will be a huge benefit to everyone involved in the farming industry.”

Julie has shared her learnings from the innovation project with local farmers and she says most of them are keen to know more about her journey and can see the benefits of using science to improve their farms.

“Farmers are supportive and willing to share what they have learned. If you are a farmer who is open to innovation and new ideas, I believe you will be able to continue to farm into the future and have a successful farming business.

Farm viability improved through precision agriculture

Cust farmer Roscoe Taggart with his maize for grain crop which he is trialling for the first time this season.

Reduced input costs and nitrogen fertiliser use, along with improved environmental outcomes are key benefits realised by Roscoe Taggart over the last two years on his family’s 730 hectare arable and sheep farm in Cust.

Roscoe has achieved greater efficiency through precision agriculture and the use of a new Yara N sensor during a Next Generation Farming project designed to help farmers meet tough nitrate caps while maintaining their viability. As part of this project, farmers like Roscoe are using innovation to demonstrate productivity and environmental benefits to their neighbours in the region and beyond.

Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.

As the harvest season draws to a close, Roscoe says this harvest has been a mixed bag due to wet weather conditions, however his new maize for seed and evening primrose crops have provided positive results.

“At the beginning of harvest, we had really good results. Unfortunately, then the tap just turned on and we had huge amounts of rain coming through at the wrong time which cost quite a bit in terms of yield for the later crops.

“We have just harvested our evening primrose and it’s been surprising to see how well it has done, especially for a paddock that was pretty wet early on. We’ve exceeded our target for the seed yield off it.”

Roscoe tried maize for grain for the first time this year and he is pleased with how the crop went and will plant it again next season as it works well in his crop rotation and returns potassium to the soil.

“It’s a crop with nice deep roots so it breaks up the soil nicely and while it does require a bit of fert up front you end up returning a lot of K to the soil instead of removing it which is what happens if you grow it for sileage instead of for grain.

“It also works well because we harvest it in early June, so it extends the season out further which means we are harvesting from November through to June.”

For Roscoe, one of the most important precision agriculture tools is his Yara N sensor which has allowed him to reduce his use of nitrogen fertiliser by approximately 80 kilograms this season.

“We have saved around three units of N per tonne of grain so on a twelve-tonne paddock you are saving 36 units of N per hectare which gives us an overall saving of 80 kilograms of urea for the season.

“It’s been a game changer for us, especially using the N sensor in absolute mode, where the N sensor decides how much fertiliser to apply. We’ll keep using it in absolute mode because it is minimising our N use which is important not just in terms of cost savings but also environmental impact.”

To further reduce his use of nitrogen fertiliser, Roscoe is learning about mineralisable N in the soil which is released from organic matter throughout the season.

“The soil itself can supply a good amount of mineralisable N and we just need to work out when the N in the soil will be available for the plant to use and we believe this will reduce our use of N fertiliser even further.”

One thing that has surprised Roscoe over the last two years during the N sensor trial is the amount of variability he has throughout his farm.

“There’s more variation in our relatively flat, uniform farm that I ever could have imagined and looking at the maps that come out of the N sensor there’s no consistency in paddocks that before using the sensor I would have thought of as very consistent.”

Roscoe sees precision agriculture as critical in ensuring the future viability of farming in New Zealand.

“Precision ag makes your farm more efficient and there are some real social, environmental, and economic benefits that you don’t realise until you get into this.

“I never thought too much about future generations until I had kids of my own and you want them to have the opportunity to farm where you farm. That’s when you start looking around the place and think about how to make farming sustainable for the next generation.

“If I can leave this land in as good as or a better condition than I found it then I will be happy with what I have achieved.”

Fernside dairy farmer Julie Bradshaw has reduced her herd by 15 cows while maintaining the same level of milk production by using genomic information provided by Livestock Improvement Corporation’s (LIC’s) North Canterbury Agri-Manager Paul Bau.

Fernside dairy farmer Julie Bradshaw has reduced her herd size by 15 cows while maintaining the same milk production levels using genomic information provided by Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) that enables her to make informed decisions about which animals to retain for long term genetic gain.

Julie is participating in Next Generation Farming; a project to help farmers meet tough nitrate caps while maintaining their viability. As part of this project, farmers like Julie are using innovation and demonstrating its productivity and environmental benefits to their neighbours in the region and beyond.

Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.

One of Julie’s key goals for the two-year innovation project is using genomic data to refine herd numbers. Her current herd sits at 400 cows after she reduced the herd by 15 cows earlier this year and she is comfortable with losing another 15 cows to further lower the herd size if she can still achieve the same milk production rates.

“Over the years, the quality of the information in our genetic tests has improved so much that we have greater confidence selecting which females have the potential to make the greatest contribution to our herd’s future and we can focus our efforts on those ones. In the current climate we need to ensure that we have the most efficient cows on farm because it is obvious that we will need to reduce our herd numbers further.

“The data we are getting now is amazingly accurate. You can really delve into each cow and calf and evaluate its future value based on science. We also herd test four times per year and the information that we receive is helping us to achieve our goals.”

Making decisions based on science provides benefits for both farm operational efficiency and for the environment, says Julie.

“Using the data helps you make good decisions for your farm in both a business and an environmental sense. We need to show that we are playing our part in terms of reducing our impact on the environment as well as running an efficient business.”

LIC’s North Canterbury Agri Manager Paul Bau says Julie is sitting at the faster end of genetic gain due to her strong focus on genetics, data and accurate record keeping.

“Julie has basically doubled her rate of genetic gain when compared to the national average in the 10-year period. She is part of LIC’s Sire Proving Scheme which includes the genomic evaluation service for each of her animals. All calves that are DNA parent verified also receive an individual genomic evaluation. This provides farmers with reliable data which they can use to create the most efficient herd.”

Julie says local farmers have expressed interest in learning more about genomics and how science can help them to farm more efficiently.

“Everyone is quite onboard with what I am doing, and I have spoken to a few farmers who are keen to DNA test their herd and see where it takes them. That’s where we started off many years ago and while there is a cost involved, the benefits far outweigh the costs because the decisions we make based on data help us to constantly improve and refine our herd.”

While it is hard to know how many cows will be in Julie’s herd in the future, she says that having reliable genetic data helps to provide a sense of certainty about which animals to focus her efforts on and this is something that all farmers can rely on.

“There will always be outside forces that influence the decisions you make on farm, and we really don’t know what sort of reductions we will have to make in the future but having the correct data helps you to make the best decisions for the future of your farm.”