Southland Farmers Given 18-Month Freshwater Farm Plan Reprieve
Southland farmers staring down a May deadline to submit freshwater farm plans under current regional plan rules have been given an 18-month reprieve by the Government.
The Ditchfields have farmed in Southland since 1997, progressing from sharemilking to equity partnerships to sole farm ownership.
Now based on a 176ha farm at Wendonside known as 'Freedom Acres', they regard themselves as guardians of their whenua.
With their shared vision of "Positively Impacting People", the Ditchfields freely share their journey, methods and philosophies on their company website, and also run a series of business, life and leadership courses they call "Farming to Freedom".
Freedom Acres is currently in its first season of once-a-day milking. They are also trialling bale grazing, a wintering system where hay bales are spaced across a paddock, with stock grazing breaks of hay and pasture throughout the winter. The system aims to reduce nitrogen leaching and improve soil health and pasture regeneration, helping towards lowering the farm's environmental footprint.
The judges commented that the Ditchfields were inspirational and real leaders in the farming sector, with the philosophy of people being at the core of their operation. "This approach is good for the cows, good for the soil, good for the water and good for the people."
