Drought-busting message for national field day, 14 May 2008
Options for adapting dryland farming to climate change will be highlighted during a “Beyond Reasonable Drought” field day in Marlborough, on Wednesday, 14 May.
The field day is the culmination of the four-year Starborough-Flaxbourne soil conservation project, kicked off by farmers’ fear that a continuous run of droughts was destroying their land. The project’s relevance to farmers throughout New Zealand facing the reality of climate change has now been realised, says its chairman and field day host, Doug Avery of Bonavaree Farm.
A woolshed forum opens the day, exploring options for surviving climate change. The keynote speaker is winemaker, Dave Pearce, who took Grove Mill Winery through the steps of becoming the world’s first carbon zero winery, for the NZ Wine Company. “Seeking the high ground; it pays to know where it is before having to swim for it”, is Dave’s topic, 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 the farmers and science providers involved with the project. Soils will be introduced by Richard Hunter of the Marlborough Research Centre Trust, including the reasons north-facing slopes are so susceptible to erosion. Dr Barrie Wills of Central Environmental Services, Alexandra, will summarise dryland forage plant trials with Doug Avery 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 part of the soil conservation project package. 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.
An area of wetland and a gully forest at Bonavaree Farm have been surveyed then fenced, with support from the Marlborough District Council’s Significant Natural Areas Programme. Mr Avery counts the project’s focus on environmental as well as economic sustainability, as especially satisfying.
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. At Bonavaree Farm, the first steps have taken towards a scenario where lucerne provides nutritious stock fodder on the most productive areas, shrubs including saltbush and tagasaste hold soils on erosion-prone slopes, and blocks and belts of trees offer shelter, shade and eventually maybe an income from hardwood timber.
Shrub-filled gullies and species-rich wetlands will be left untouched or even enhanced. Where there’s a water source, vineyards could complete the picture.
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, email: heather.collins@landcare.org.nz, phone 03 572 8876, or NZ Landcare Trust, 0508 526 322. Registrations close at the end of April.
