Beyond Reasonable Drought Fielday Marlborough May 14

‘Beyond reasonable drought’ field day sets climate change strategies
Strategies for adapting dryland farming to climate change will be highlighted during a ‘Beyond Reasonable Drought’ field day in Marlborough, on Wednesday, May 14.
The field day at Bonavaree Farm, south of Blenheim, winds up a four-year soil conservation project initiated by farmers concerned that a continuous run of droughts was destroying their land. With help from the NZ Landcare Trust, the Marlborough District Council and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Sustainable Farming Fund, they formed the Starborough-Flaxbourne Soil Conservation Group and brought in expert advice.
Since the project began, the Avery family’s Bonavaree Farm has achieved a 54% increase in profits despite a 15% decrease in rainfall in the last 12 years. What makes the result especially impressive is that this has always been one of New Zealand’s driest districts, with a 576mm long-term average rainfall.
Changed management of lucerne – traditionally grown in the district for supplements and seed - has played a major role in this success story. Lambs are now grazed on lucerne pre and post-weaning, finishing at 17-17.5kg carcase weights in nine to 13 weeks, with average growth rates of 390g/day.
A woolshed forum opens the day, exploring options for surviving climate change. The keynote speaker is Dave Pearce, who took Grove Mill through the steps of becoming the world’s first carbon zero winery, for the NZ Wine Company. ‘Seeking the high ground’ will be a birds-eye look at sustainability issues for pastoral farmers.
Setting the scene will be Alan Porteous of the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA). Stuart Ford of Canterbury-based The AgriBusiness Group will present the pros and cons of bringing irrigation to a dryland community.
Then there’s a farm tour, with presentations from farmers and science providers. Soils will be introduced by Richard Hunter of the Marlborough Research Centre Trust and Dr Barrie Wills of Central Environmental Services, Alexandra, will summarise dryland forage plant trials with soil conservation group chairman, Doug Avery of Bonavaree Farm, providing a practical perspective.
The afternoon stop focuses on farming systems, presented by Farmax manager, Graeme Ogle and lucerne revolutionary, Professor Derrick Moot of Lincoln University along with Doug’s son, Fraser Avery.
Protecting and promoting biodiversity, has been an especially satisfying part of the soil conservation project for Doug Avery. Talking about the natural history of the area and the importance of protecting the few remaining areas of native vegetation will be ecologist, Dr Philip Simpson.
Environmental and forestry consultant, Paul Millen will draw together ways land management options identified under the project could transform the Starborough-Flaxbourne landscape and economy.
Anyone who would like to be kept in touch with plans for the field day or who knows others who would be interested should contact project manager, Heather Collins heather.collins@landcare.org.nz phone 03 572-8876 or NZ Landcare Trust, 0508 526 322. Registrations close at the end of April.