3.6 Research gaps
3.6.1 Soils: fertility, nutrients, biological and physical management
A recurring comment in all workshops was the view that "getting the soil right" was one of the keys to successfully converting to organic supply. This should be explored further with organic producers in order to better define the key attributes of an organic system. There is a need to better understand the functional characteristics of soils under organic management and how they influence systems performance (e.g. biological activity as it affects assimilation rates of nutrients, pest:predator ratios, resilience to adverse events, organic matter and physical management under arable, nutrient management in terms of nutrient balances and losses). Examining systems that have been under long-term (20+ years) organic management provides the opportunity to evaluate the significance of any functional changes on systems performance.
The more specific issues raised by the workshops identified the difficulties of, and consequently the need for, research into identifying options for maintaining soil organic fertility, nutrient management (phosphorus, sulphur, potassium, nitrogen, trace elements), addressing the lack of nitrogen fertiliser input options, and tackling soil physical management under sheep and beef and arable systems and policies.
3.6.2 Gastro-intestinal parasites
Of the technical issues identified in the livestock sectors behind-the-farm-gate, internal parasite management was by far the most common and offered the greatest challenge. There is an urgent need for information on the following options for controlling gastro-intestinal parasites:
- genetics (breeding for resistance, resilience, production under a parasite challenge). Utilising breed differences may be a possibility;
- plants (high protein forage, erect species, forage shrubs, tannin-containing plants, plants with anthelmintic properties);
- pathogens/bio-controls (nematophagus fungi);
- management (good nutrition, low stress, livestock species mix, age structure of herd/flock, soil fertility level as it influences forage quality and seasonality of supply, timing of weaning, cropping, mowing as a pest control practice).
Most options offer a method for reducing the endo-parasite challenge to the animal. Climatic conditions, livestock, landform, and the skills of the operator will each influence the options that can be used, and their effectiveness. None will be an effective alternative to an anthelmintic drench once a nematode burden has accumulated in the naïve animal.
One of the difficulties of fully utilising the above list of options is the lack of information on their effectiveness. Implementing many of these options will require significant changes to the enterprise and a change in priorities, such as a greater emphasis on pest management than forage utilisation. Greater use will be required of integrative models of forage supply and pest cycles.
3.6.3 Lungworm
Lungworm (Dictyocaulus eckerti) infections are common in farmed Red deer, with young newly-weaned stock being particularly susceptible. Prevention of clinical infections in young deer is generally achieved through anthelmintic treatments administered during autumn to spring, and older stock are also usually treated in late winter. There is a high degree of dependence on chemical techniques to control lungworm on conventional deer farms.
There is an array of alternative methods of controlling lungworm, as there are for gastro-intestinal parasites, but as with gastro-intestinal parasites, the knowledge on each is incomplete. Studies required include:
- grazing management (with respect to animal densities, rotation, grazing height, weather conditions, mixed species of livestock);
- avoiding stress to protect immuno-competence (including good nutrition and meeting social and physical needs);
- soil management (with respect to drainage and possible soil treatments such as copper sulphate);
- weaning strategy;
- forage types with specific physical (e.g. height) and chemical properties (e.g. condensed tannins);
- "natural" anthelmintic treatments (e.g. diatomaceous earth, garlic, plant extracts).
- breeding for genetic resistance.
Some of the above strategies for controlling lungworm in deer are currently being used on farms and some are the subject of current study. For example, recent research at Invermay into early versus late weaning on commercial deer farms has provided an indication that delaying weaning may be effective in reducing the size of the lungworm burden in young stock (Pollard et al., 2000). More work is required on this and the other options identified above.
3.6.4 Mastitis
The single biggest animal health threat to the milk production base is mastitis. This impacts on the number of cows in milk on an organic unit, because animals that require treatment with antibiotic must be removed from the herd for the balance of the year. Mastitis can be managed by good farm practice, which embraces all aspects of farm systems management from feeding levels and quality, stress and pressure on animals, and dairy shed management, through to genetics. Again, knowledge on the relative importance of each is limited. The use of homeopathy has been promoted as an effective approach for managing mastitis in an organic system, as have a number of other remedies and tonics. Our understanding of these alternative practices is limited to practitioners. To date, no rigorous evaluation of these alternatives has been undertaken.
3.6.5 Weeds
The management of weeds as it affects the short-term viability of organic arable producers and the long-term viability of all four sectors was identified as a subject for further investigation.
Other areas requiring further investigation include the ability to predict the potential for weed spread and infestation before implementing a conversion plan or following a change in practice, the usefulness of bio-control agents, the most effective method of introducing and managing bio-control agents in farm systems, and the interaction between land use and the above issues.
3.6.6 Systems function and management
Sustainable solutions to soil fertility and nutrient management, and to pest and weed challenges will require, in most instances, a systems change. To date there has been little analysis of the biology, resource requirements, environmental impact or sustainability of organic systems (e.g. life cycle analysis). There is currently very little investment examining systems-level issues facing organic producers, including issues as diverse as conversion planning and management, monitoring protocols and identification of critical points, risk management, and labour requirements and skills, through to advisory services and industry linkages and logistics.
3.6.7 Skills, knowledge and access to information
While not strictly a research gap, increased access to research with relevance to organics, assistance in its interpretation, and capturing current knowledge of organic producers were identified in the workshops as priority. The lack of skills and incomplete knowledge adds considerable risk to the business. The need for a "new" set of management skills or at minimum a more complete understanding the biology/ecology of a farm system was identified. With a good industry infrastructure in place, tapping into existing and new services should be no more difficult to gain information than for the "average" farmer.
Contact for Enquiries
Kay Brown
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0695
Fax: +64 4 4 894 0746
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