DairyLink - Tararua Project

The DairyLink - Tararua Project is focussed upon improving productivity and achieving greater resource use efficiency on farms.

The project contributes towards the dairy industry strategic target to “meet all industry requirements and negotiated agreements”. It will assist farmers in the district to improve their natural resource efficiency.

The DairyLink group is made up of local dairy farmers and representatives from DairyNZ, Federated Farmers, Fonterra and Horizons Regional Council.

The group has three key goals that they want to achieve in the catchment. They are to:

Demonstrate improved productivity and reduced environmental impact from dairying, e.g. by greater pasture utilisation
Increase compliance rates on dairy farms and improved water quality, e.g. by diverting collected rain water at the farm dairy
Promote “good environmental practice” e.g. nutrient management.

Demonstrating success

Three Tararua dairy farms have been selected for the DairyLink - Tararua project.

Through demonstration, and farm analysis, the project will help farmers learn about the opportunities and limitations of the natural resources on their properties such as their soils, pastures, waterways and livestock.

The farms, in Hukanui, Mangatainoka and Dannevirke will be assessed in natural resource topics ranging from effluent and fertiliser application to riparian and weed management. Future opportunities to increase productivity while reducing the impact on the environment will then be identified, action taken and results monitored.

On-farm forums will provide an opportunity to discuss key management decisions, along with regular updates through email and information on dairynz.co.nz.

The aim on each of the farms is to:

Optimise farming systems for productivity and profitability
Efficiently use soils and pasture - including fertiliser, supplements and effluent
Manage environmental risks – minimising the amount of faecal contaminants, sediment, phosphate and nitrogen entering waterways
Efficiently use water, electricity and energy.

Get involved:

Attend each of your regular local DairyLink - Tararua events
Register to receive the regular email updates from your local DairyLink - Tararua farm.
Use the information to make the best possible decisions on-farm this season.