2007 Winners

2007 LIC Dariy Farm Award

Shaun and Joanne Back (operations managers) and Graeme Sutton (owner)

Obtaining as much information as possible is the key to running a sustainable dairy farm, say Shaun and Joanne Back. Shaun is well practiced in detailed recording from his two years as manager of the Lincoln University dairy farm.

In June the Backs took over management of a 345ha effective fully irrigated dairy unit on Tram Road in North Canterbury. The farm is owned by an equity partnership of three families.

This season there were 1362 cows at peak milking. The season’s target was 545,000kg of milk solids or 1580kg/ ha, but they are on budget for 552,000kg or 1600kg/ha, putting them in the top 10 per cent of Canterbury dairy farms.

Joanne says the focus is on pasture management and pasture quality. “We’ve adopted the Lincoln system of low residuals.’’

This means weekly pasture walks to assess the amount of grass left in each paddock. The resulting feed wedge, ranking paddocks from the highest grass to the lowest, helps management of grazing height and pasture quality.

By achieving low residuals of approx 1500 kg DM/ha, the pasture quality remains high, and seeding and stalky pastures are avoided.

She says they aim to be as sustainable as practical. “We do a lot of monitoring so we know what is happening - fertiliser use, water use, where the effluent goes. ‘They are working to reduce nutrient loss through nutrient budgeting, soil testing, effluent application recording, use of nitrate inhibitors, and a clear protocol for the management of the effluent system.

A soil moisture monitoring system ensures irrigation water is applied only when needed, and this helps to maximise pasture growth.

What the judges said…
• Comprehensive policies and recording to assist with farming decisions.
• Working to mitigate the loss of nutrients.
• Detailed animal health and farm management policies support staff in making daily decisions.

2007 Wrightson Habitat Improvement Award

Diana and Ian MacKenzie

Careful management and enhancement of waterways on Ian and Diana Mackenzie’s Mid Canterbury farm is helping in the survival and re-establishment of the rare native Canterbury mudfish.

Despite a history of 150 years of intensive farming the Mackenzie’s 425ha intensive cropping unit, made up of three farms near the coast south of Ashburton is a significant site for the mudfish and other aquatic species which thrive in the creeks on the farm.

Ian says they grow milling wheat, ryegrass seed, and various vegetable and nutriceutical seeds in a three-year rotation.

“We put a lot of effort into looking after the physical and chemical health of the soil, by soil testing, incorporating all our straw, judicious cultivation, and a sympathetic stock policy to avoid pugging.’’
He says that to reduce the risk of nutrient loss the whole farm has crop cover before winter.
The three farms are fully irrigated, two from bores and the other is supplied by the Eiffelton Irrigation scheme. The irrigation is carefully managed to try to match the crops’ needs and the various soil types on the farm.

Wetlands and ponds have been enhanced and protected to encourage the wide variety of birdlife as well as the native fish that live on the farm.This combination of environmental stewardship and sound management makes for a very productive farm, Ian says.

What the judges said…
• Careful management of the farm’s waterways which provide a habitat for the endangered Canterbury mudfish.
• Excellent example of how intensive farming and biodiversity can co-exist.
• Very good crop and stock management practices are resulting in above average yields.

© 2009 Environment Canterbury