Thursday, 11 July 2019 14:55

Kiwi farmers tuned in to their local environment – scholar

Written by 
Cam Henderson visiting a dairy farm in Brazil. Cam Henderson visiting a dairy farm in Brazil.

Kiwi farmers are more engaged practically in their local environmental issues, compared to some farmers visited recently by a Nuffield farming scholar.

Dairy farmer Cam Henderson, of North Canterbury, spent eight weeks looking at farming practices in the US, Mexico, Brazil, the Netherlands and NZ. 

Henderson owns and runs a 750 cow dairy farm near Oxford, is on the Waimakariri zone committee which sets local environmental limits, and is Federated Farmers’ North Canterbury provincial president.  

“In New Zealand, regulation encourages farmers to get actively involved and focus on the environmental outcomes of their farm system,” Henderson said. 

“But in Europe, where regulation controls farm inputs, farmers must comply with a set list of ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ and are less concerned about whether that has a positive environmental effect.”

In Brazil he saw crop and cattle farmers doing soil conservation and reforestation, the latter totalling an area equal to Western Europe.

“I was impressed with their understanding of their environmental footprint and their use of direct drilling for improved soil conservation.”

Henderson drove from Chicago to Des Moines, Iowa with five other Nuffield scholars, visiting farms and agricultural universities. He said he noted the quality of the US university system but found environmental protection there lags behind NZ’s.

“Environmental practices aren’t regulated as in NZ and the emphasis is on large scale production. I saw effluent spread on frozen waterlogged ground -- unacceptable in NZ. 

“But their university system is excellent with plenty of practical research and world class extension services to get knowledge out into the community.”

The Netherlands was a surprise: instead of leading NZ in environmental protection it was lagging.

“Their reputation is clean and green, but I felt it was quite the opposite when I was there. Their input controls [method] ended up a box ticking exercise with farmers disengaged about what comes out the other end. 

“I saw drains running to rivers with cropping right to the edge -- no set-backs or sediment traps.”

The NZ part of Henderson’s trip focused on Nelson and Marlborough farmers diversifying to add value by growing hops and branded fruit and making ice-cream. 

His scholarship now requires a project, in his case investigating growing biofuel crops to offset carbon emissions in NZ. This is common overseas but not in NZ, he says. 

“I’m looking at how we could grow our way to carbon neutrality by turning sugar beet into ethanol as a more environmentally friendly fuel. This could be an answer to environmental issues.”

He hopes to partner with a fuel company in a trial.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Govt urged to reduce ETS units

The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as…

Dairy sheep, goat woes mount

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand…

Machinery & Products

All-terrain fert spreading mode

Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…

Can-Am showcases range

Based on industry data collected by the Motor Industry Association, Can-Am is the number one side-by-side manufacturer in New Zealand.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Papal visit

OPINION: European farmers are going to extreme lengths to have their message heard.

Thai egg tarts

OPINION: The hustle and bustle of one of Bangkok's most popular fast food outlets may feel a world away from…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter