 Young kauri planted on a steep face.preview.JPG "Young kauri planted on a steep face.")
.preview.JPG "Plantings protect the stream and the spring")
Probably the most remarkable thing about Gray and Marilyn's decision to convert their farm to organics is that until recently Gray was manager for fertiliser sales for Ballance Agrichemicals. Now, in their third year of conversion to Biogro organics, they use no urea, super phosphate or antibiotics.
The impetus for organics came out of a close partnership between neighbours. The Putts, as sharemilkers were keen to convert the Baldwins' farm to organics and already had some expertise.
The property is 187ha of mainly Tirau ash, of which 38ha is in trees; and a 45 ha runoff. They milk 410 cows.
In spring the poorer, pugged paddocks are put into crop - 10 ha maize, 10 ha Brassica, for late feed. The maize crop produced 21 T/ha organically - comparable with a conventional crop which would have been using, said Gray, "buckets of chemicals".
After harvest the cropping area is resown in mixed herbal ley - tall fescue, chicory, plantain, lucerne, red and white clovers and timothy. They are deep rooting and were growing strongly when we visited. During the drought year they produced 23 T/ha DM/annum compared with 15T for ryegrass/clover. Seed is mixed with RPR (Reactive Phosphate Rock) and sown from the air to get a good spread. Some Biogro certified potassium chloride and serpentine is also used, and 40% of the farm is plumbed to receive sprayed cowshed effluent.
Gray points out another trade-off: organics can be very energy intensive. There are few places certified to process organic dairy products so milk is often trucked over long distances. RPR has a long supply chain as the rock comes from Tunisia, and spreading it from the air demands very high fuel use. Ploughing also uses a lot of fuel compared with direct drilling, which can be done if herbicides are used.
Total energy use needs to be considered as part of farm sustainability. As more farms become organic and there is more product, there will be more processing opportunities close to home. There are also many opportunities for small scale energy generation on farms - biogas, microhydro etc. For example, the Putts have invested in solar water heating on the milking shed.
Some 20% of the Baldwin farm is in trees of all kinds, mainly on the steeper land, the fence lines and the stream edges. Environment Waikato's Clean Streams project has helped fund the planting of 11,000 natives along streams which have been fenced off from stock. A natural mineral spring has been carefully protected and is a favourite place for picnics.
The most ambitious planting is 5,000 kauri, right at the southern extremity of its range. After 4 years they are growing well on steep hillsides and will control erosion and one day provide great timber. Along the fence lines are Marilyn's project - hazelnuts, chestnuts and feijoas for harvesting with eventually produce to sell at local markets. Flax is there for stock to browse, and all will eventually provide shade and shelter for the cows. Larches, blackwoods and redwoods have been planted on other slopes as timber crops.
Listen to a conversation between this farmer and Jeanette
