Thursday, 13 May 2021 13:55

'Sustainability, good team helps build better farmers'

Written by  Staff
Trish Rankin believes that part of looking after the land means striving towards a circular economy. Trish Rankin believes that part of looking after the land means striving towards a circular economy.

Dairy Woman of the Year for 2019, Trish Rankin, says sustainable practices and picking the best team have helped her become a better farmer.

"Every year I've got more and more involved not just in our own farming business but all these other passions too - the environment, DairyNZ and helping develop waste reduction projects, working with AgRecovery," says Ranking.

"As I've found more gaps where I can help solve a problem, I've been happily developing them all."

Rankin believes that part of looking after the land means striving towards a circular economy.

As part of this, she's developed a framework she calls the Porahita 20 (porahita meaning circular in te reo Māori) - involving 10 things farmers need to enact if a circular economy is to be viable. One of those Rankin refers to is 'regenerate', which includes questioning what businesses farmers can support that act as environmental stewards for New Zealand.

"For example, with 100% renewable energy generation, that's a reason why we use Meridian," she says.

"What does it look like to be a better farmer? It looks like making a decision to support a company generating 100% renewable energy, with the flow-on effect that it's good for other people and the planet as well."

And being a better farmer also includes having the best possible team around you.

"It's pretty simple really, if you don't give me good service then we don't use you," she says. "I want you to buy in to helping me be a good farmer."

"I think that's genuinely what Meridian does, rather than just sending me a bill," says Trish.

"They've got a really good relationship with farmers through the Dairy Awards, and they're always at the end of the phone when we need them.

"It's the familiarity with someone who knows your business, your goals, and sits down and talks through what you want. It makes a difference."

Meridian is already powering over 11,000 farms, and farmers like Rankin. But they are always keen to be on more farmers' teams and help them work toward more sustainable practices.

The company is offering a $400 'moving credit' for anyone switching to them around moving day.

More like this

Changing Climate: A taste of the future

A high-resolution vineyard view of ecoclimatic indicators, and how they impact wine quality, can turn “climate insights into strategy”, says climate risk specialist Pete Taylor. “Whether you’re a grower, winemaker, or industry leader, understanding the future is key to staying ahead.”

A Thousand Gods

I like to think that when Simon Sharpe and Lauren Keenan heard they'd been named The Real Review Rising Star of the Year, they cried out "miladiou!"

One-horsepower solution

David Herd broke boundaries when he planted Marlborough's first vineyard in 1892, surrounded by sheep and crops.

Featured

NZ household food waste falls again

Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.

Editorial: No joking matter

OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.

DairyNZ plantain trials cut nitrate leaching by 26%

DairyNZ says its plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical, science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.

National

Machinery & Products

JDLink Boost for NZ farms

Connectivity is widely recognised as one of the biggest challenges facing farmers, but it is now being overcome through the…

New generation Defender HD11

The all-new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 looks likely to raise the bar in the highly competitive side-by-side category.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Full cabinet

OPINION: Legislation being drafted to bring back the controversial trade of live animal exports by sea is getting stuck in the…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter