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Dear all He mihi nui ki a koutou In this edition:
The Sustainable Farming Fund runs a performance validation
programme in order to provide the assurance and accountability that
the grant funds are being used and managed appropriately. This
programme was introduced during the 2004/05 financial year.
The validation programme involves two independent reviewers
annually evaluating a sample of projects representative of the
Sustainable Farming Fund as a whole. The reviewers meet with key
participants in the project to analyse the project outcomes to date
(in relation to the work programme agreed on in the project
contract), as well as reviewing the financial accounting systems.
The reviewers are also in a position to identify further
opportunities for new partnerships and uptake of project results.
The project team receives a report from the independent reviewer
following this evaluation.
The project reviews completed during the 2004/05 year have
confirmed that project managers, and the teams they work with, are
serious about delivering results that will make a difference to
their producing community. In most cases the reviewers provided
constructive advice to the project teams - on limited occasions
remedial advice was provided and management action was needed.
Overall, the reviewers commented that project governance and
project management arrangements are key components of a successful
project. Guidance material is available in the Project Managers
Guidelines (click
here to access or contact the SFF for a hard copy). More
material will be added to the Guidelines through this year.
DAIRY FEED PADS AND STAND OFF PADS:
BEST MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES
Dairy farmers are increasingly using feed pads and stand off pads
to maximise feed inputs, and minimise pasture damage in wet periods.
Well managed pads can increase production, improve animal welfare,
and reduce environmental damage from soil compaction and sediment
runoff. However, poorly managed pads can have detrimental effects.
As part of a Sustainable Farming Fund project (also supported by
Dairy Insight), Dexcel has produced a booklet called "Minimising
Muck, Maximising Money: Guidelines to Stand-Off and Feed Pad Design
and Management". As it says in the introduction:
"If you are contemplating constructing or upgrading a stand-off
or feed pad then this booklet is for you! The booklet provides
options and tips for incorporating a pad into your farming
operation. It covers planning and decision making, design,
construction, maintenance and management to help you reach optimum
efficiency."
You can download the booklet from the SFF website (access
by clicking here) or from the Dexcel website (click
here).
Over 1000 farmers and rural professionals attended one of the 12
field days on feed pads held in different North Island locations
during June and July.
"The fantastic attendance throughout the North Island shows the
high level of interest in the topic. Overall we are very happy with
the feedback and we are looking forward to hitting the South Island
later this year." says Anna Lambourne (Dexcel Business Developer and
Project Manager).
A further series of field days has been planned for the South
Island in November (for more information on the field days contact
anna.lambourne@dexcel.co.nz)
Interested in finding out more? Further information is
available from the SFF website by
clicking
here.
"The advantage we have over our forebears is that we are a lot
more familar with our environment and climate. We have much greater
information and resources at our disposal. This gives us the
potential to make smart choices that will be beneficial, even in the
absence of significant climate change. The challenge is effective
communication of climate change and adaptation to farmers and the
wider community." (Kenny, 2005. Adapting to Climate Change in
Eastern New Zealand)
This project began in March/April 2003 with a series of workshops
with farmers.
The principal objective was to identify and implement practical
measures aimed at the long term sustainability of land and water
resources in eastern New Zealand, in the face of uncertain climate
change projections. From this initial phase of work, the group
produced the publication, "A view from the ground: a farmer
perspective on climate change and adaptation".
Now, following a further two years of workshops and interviews, a
resource kit: "Adapting to Climate Change in Eastern New Zealand; A
farmer perspective" is available.
Compiled and written by Gavin Kenny, and containing original
artwork by Fred Robertson, the kit is both visually attractive and
informative. It contains case studies at the individual farm level
as well as at a regional level looking at adaptations and solutions
to coping with climate change.
The kit was launched recently at a field day in
Napier attended by many of those associated with its development.
Copies of the kit can be obtained by contacting -
gavinkenny@clear.net.nz
Pdf files will also soon be available on the website -
www.earthlimited.co.nz
Interested in finding out more? More information about this
project is available on the SFF website by
clicking here.
SFF staff, Amanda Hall and Katherine McCusker, recently attended
a seminar organised by the Lincoln Resource involving people from
Crown Research Institutes, Lincoln University, and agribusiness.
Some of the key messages that are very relevant to SFF projects
included:
What makes science credible to farmers?
- The more farmers are involved along the way the more credible
it will be to them.
- The results need to be well presented by a credible person
- The information needs to be correctly pitched for the audience
You must be able to measure the results
- The science must fit into the whole farm package
How do farmers like to receive science?
- Message needs to be clear, short and simple
- Seeing is believing eg arable demonstration site
- Need some economics and pay back time presented
- Commercial setting - how will it work for me?
- Field days - well advertised in newsletters, email, word of
mouth by local networks. Paid advertising in newspapers often has
poor returns
- Computers, email, websites, videos, DVDs work well for young
dairy and arable farmers located in regions with good network
access. These may not work for other farmers or those in more
remote regions.
Why do farmers take up science?
- Technology that tends to be taken up rapidly tends to be
simple one-piece technology that has a simple message with the
dollars adding up
- Relevant
- Some farmers will take up more than others eg Sirus Wheat
model - some farmers liked the computer model and used it
regularly for management decisions, others used it as a learning
tool, while others only wanted to increase their understanding of
nitrogen and wheat growth delivered in the workshop.
Why farmers do not take up science?
- Long 'pay back' period
- Limited application
- Too complicated
- Will not change anything
- Not practical
- Lack of local support
- Risk adverse
- Information overload
Youth EnviroSchool is an award winning event focusing on
environmental science and stewardship that has been held biennally
at Lincoln University since 1990. The five day residential event
brings together Year 12 and 13 students from around New Zealand to
explore aspects of environmental science and leadership.
The 2006 Youth EnviroSchool - Te Kura Taiao will be held at
Lincoln University from 18 - 22 April.
The programme will include:
- lectures, discussion groups, interactive sessions,
presentations by participants;
- a visit to a marae, including examples of tangata whenua
approaches to environmental management;
- a one-day field trip to inland Canterbury's plains and
mountain environment (via Rakaia Gorge to Mt Somers station). The
themes are 'Human interaction with the land', 'Sustainable land
management', 'Primary production' and 'Resource extraction';
- practical workshop sessions; and,
- a social programme including a YES 2006 dinner.
Generous sponsorship (from Solid Energy NZ Ltd, Lincoln
University Foundation, and Rotary Club of Lincoln) has kept the
charge to students down to $450 (incl GST). This includes transfers,
four nights in the University Halls, all meals, field trips and
course materials.
For further information contact:
- Cora Baillie, Professional Development Group, Lincoln
University.
Phone 03 325 3628 Fax 03 325 3840 E-mail:
baillec@lincoln.ac.nz
- Associate Professor Graeme Buchan, P O Box 84, Lincoln
University, Canterbury
Phone 03 325 2811 E-mail:
buchan@lincoln.ac.nz
Sustainable Farming Fund is supporting YES 2006 with funding from
the 2005 Under $20,000 grant round.
A note to Newsletter readers
If you are interested in providing either items for the programme
or financial support to YES 2006, please contact the organisers.
Tane's Tree Trust is gathering together the experiences of
farmers who use native trees on farms. You can find out more about
this, by reading the Native Trees on Farms Newsletter (available
from the SFF website, by
clicking here).
2006/07 SFF FUNDING ROUND DATES
Once again, here are the key dates for the 2006/07 funding round:
Early October 2005 : Funding round launched
13 February 2006: Phase 1 applications close
Early April 2006: Applicants for funds of over $20,000
advised whether proceeding to Phase 2 (or not)
May 2006: Applicants for funds of $20,000 or less advised
whether successful (or not)
Early May 2006: Phase 2 (full proposals) applications close
Mid June 2006: Phase 2 results announced.
July - August 2006: Contracts completed and projects commence
Further details (including guidelines and application forms) will
be available on the SFF website over the next few months. Groups
that are interested in appying for funding in the next round are
urged to contact the SFF project advisor in their region (Click
here for SFF contacts).
Please note that we will not be running Phase 1 applicant
workshops this year. However, SFF project advisors are happy to meet
with individuals or groups to discuss their proposed project.
Please contact us if you want to provide something for future
editions of SFF E-News.
Let us know if you don't wish to receive any more editions of
E-news or if there is someone who should be added to our
distribution list.
Kind regards
Hai kona ra
Kevin, Amanda, Barrie, Fiona, Katherine and Helen |
