Curious Cockie Club

April 24^th 2025, Canterbury Curious Cockies, Scargill and Loburn, Canterbury

Visited two properties, one looking for a system, the other found it.  Farmers looking for solutions often overlook the value of grazing management, instead distracted by pasture mixes, fertilisers and genetics.  There are no short cuts; minimise mob numbers, shift often and observe and measure.  However, every now and then Curious Cockies come across a farmer claiming one thing changed their system.  Often, they’ve stumbled into something that makes them observe and measure more and that lifts their enthusiasm for farming.  It’s the change that makes this happen.  In this instance conventional services were not progressing the business.  A shift to an alternative fertility programme created a mental shift.  True progress means effects are lasting longer than conventional advice says possible.  Nice to have Grazing Revolution facilitator and farmer Scotty Hickman from Canowindra, NSW (holding thistle) with us today to enjoy his wit and wisdom.   

April 15^th 2025, Hawkes Bay Curious Cockies, Papanui Junction, Manawatu

Visited one of the most remote members of this group today to check out his property and appreciate the commitment to come to days in Hawkes Bay.  Milder winter and later springs plays a bit on lambing dates but grazing hoggets off ensures enough feed to get lambs away before Christmas.  An Angus stud has driven his enthusiasm for hill country cattle, although finding EBVs compromise shape and form of livestock for hills.  It creates the opportunity to mix beyond his immediate community.  Grazing management is a challenge with the stud and knows sheep and steers would make operations simpler.

April 8^th 2025, Aorangi Curious Cockies, Methven, Canterbury

Visited with a manager today juggling livestock, crops, staff and dairy managers.  His focus is on optimising crop consumption and calling out reps about their claims regarding products.  We spoke about strategies to reduce fertiliser, including how to reduce applications for crops.  Another area was using grazing management to reduce drench resistance and product.  Key is to be thinking how to improve livestock diets with crop while simultaneously building fertility for the next crop or pasture.  The other property was focusing on lower labour systems because its owner juggles a number of other roles.  This includes a solar energy project over part of the farm.  Shifting deer killing dates reduced emissions and improved pasture supply for fawning.  Bigger hinds prove to be more profitable and handle the dry better.

March 6^th 2025, Northland Curious Cockies, Kaeo and Taipa, Northland

The group headed to a couple of beef properties.  One was able to run a tractor over a good part of it to plant multi-species crops which thrived on Kauri white clays without sprays or fertiliser except lime.  There were peds forming when digging a hole.  They were happy with livestock performance by crossing with Speckled Park to produce a calf to 285kg lwt in 5 months. No worm problems as dung beetle doing their job.  The second property is substantial hill country and was focusing on infrastructure; they’d negotiated cheap rock for strengthening their road.  Cheap fibreglass rods were proving useful to experiment with paddock shape and size.  A challenge was how to take advantage of all the totaras germinating all over the property. 

March 4^th 2025, Waikato Curious Cockies, Raglan, Waikato

With the severe summer dry we looked at a couple of local properties and how they were coping.  The dairy farm was using effluent to irrigate chicory pastures to keep some green in front of cows.  They use their feed barn to provide supplements, twice a day to the milking mob, once a day for everything else.  A split calving and winter contract takes advantage of their winter growth.  The other property was primarily trading, mostly bulls.  Upon combining seven mobs into one, this strategy led to deferring 25% of the paddocks and requiring more bulls to graze the excess.  The farmer remarked how much more time he had shifting one mob six times per day compared to shifting seven mobs once per day.  These animals were so docile and content despite drought conditions. 

February 26^th & 27^th, Central Curious Cockies, Oamaru, Otago and Pukaki, Canterbury

Every now and then Curious Cockies group do a two-dayer.  This group visited a commercial abattoir, a sobering experience from the beginning of the chain to the end, yet essential to be rewarded for what livestock farmers do best.  Then on to a yarn making factory and the processes of taking scoured wool and turning it into a product to produce carpets.  By the way, business is increasing which is positive.  Then over to a couple of iconic properties near Twizel.  The focus of both places is having the right livestock class on the right pasture to optimise returns.  Beating the summer dry is a priority and both have had trouble with local councils cancelling irrigation consents so development is limited.  Hence both are focusing on optimising what they already have before expanding further.

February 25^th 2025, Southern Curious Cockies, Riversdale, Southland

Another day of different properties.  One was a full on large scale operation looking to lift production by streamlining systems and getting more from staff.  It was clear, staff culture is the single biggest factor in keeping large operations operating at full noise.  Investment in staff may precede other farm spending because its return is compounding and self-determining.  Complex businesses do not suit recipe approaches to management, best to focus on principles to create flexibility.  The second property lifted production 40% in three years without urea.  They had expertly identified the evolving weak link in their enterprise and were reaping rewards.  Moving to once-a-day milking had helped the farmer achieve his family and community goals without compromising the farm business. 

February 24^th 2025, Regen South, Otapiri Gorge, Southland

Spend the day with the Regen South group introducing them to Holistic Management themes and insights.  In New Zealand, since the early 2000s, farmer’s attitudes to information has changed.  Prior, they readily discussed information offered them robustly.  Today, often they expect recipes because they are captured by the illusion of certainty.  Holistic Management techniques are designed to challenge management assumptions.  The focus isn’t on what to do, but how to think up your own solutions until something works.  If you’re not prepared to be shown where to look, you’re not ready to generate your own solutions.  That makes you vulnerable to exploitation because when others provide solutions to farmer’s problems, that increases risk.    

February 20^th 2025, Canterbury Curious Cockies, Oxford, Canterbury

Today we had the chance to learn from older, wiser souls.  We visited an irrigated dairy with production at the forefront.  Cation balancing is the key along with tetrapod ryegrasses and white clovers.  Impatience is a two edged sword, something sorely tested when getting soils to function better.  That said they’ve seen soil porosity increase and GHG emissions decline.  They closed the loop by ensuring the wider family grow out heifers and calves.  The second property also has soil problems and is closely watched by Ecan.  It is clear that modelling which Ecan bases its leaching and water holding estimates is faulty.  Learned about the limitations of humates and other products and how to figure that out with simple field experiments when your soil has enough.  If got aphids, try fish oil which blocks up their breathing tubes. 

February 17^th 2025 Hawkes Bay Curious Cockies, Havelock North, Hawkes Bay

Visited two different properties today, one had an owner interested in the value of meat, the other not.  The second allowed the manager to run a simple grazing system and capitalise on its organic status.  However, that grazing could be easily compromised by the English park vision of the owner due the climate of the area.  The other property was a well resourced operation with greater focus on the value of meat.  Having an owner with a marketing background is an unfair advantage because they know commodities can only be differentiated through discounting.  They know finding the value customers place on meat drives opportunities.  Upon finding a niche and staking personal values to a brand is an eye opener for many farmers.  However, if they want to be rewarded for meat that genuinely reflect their values, more are going to have to look at this path.  

December 10^th 2024 Aorangi Curious Cockies, Timaru, Canterbury. 

Spent a day on cropping farms, both optimistic at what they can do with their natural resources.  The focus of one property was residual management, in particular the height of stubble to plant the next crop into to capture rain, reduce soil loss and improve conditions for seed germination for the next crop.  They noticed as fungi lifted so do yields.  Looking more at biology had seen insecticides reduce 80% in five years.  Having problems with birds pulling seedlings out of the ground looking for diner underneath.  We arrived to a yard grass fire at the other property which caused some excitement.  This property loves using cover crops to optimise growing conditions throughout the year and push more carbon into soil.  Soil must be continually covered to benefit from nature which is leading to lower nitrogen applications.  Livestock grazing multi-species pastures are an important of the soil healing process.

December 5^th 2024 Northland Curious Cockies, Okaihau, Northland

Visited a property where investment was seeing rewards from new pastures and cattle genetics.  Next big investment will be stock water to improve grazing management.  They’re making the most of easy river flats and working out which species suits different areas of the farm.  Even released dungs beetles which they have been waiting for 4 years.  Another property was challenged with production issues grounded in a turbulent sharemilker situation.  In this case, all communication is being watched over by professional organisations and support.  Always challenging when walking around paddocks and looking at livestock to see huge potential being wasted due to hidden agendas. 

December 3^rd 2024 Waikato Curious Cockies, Edgecombe and Galatea, Waikato

A bit driving today but we saw two very interesting properties.  One has been challenging conventional wisdom for 40 years.  Now no P or K for 40 years, no drenching in 30 years, no grass grub, property doesn’t brown off over summer, soil soaks up water like a sponge.  Had trial comparing soil leaching using lysimeters with neighbour which quickly showed significant differences so neighbour asked them to be removed.  Then on to property engaging in a number of activities, from exploring generating their own hydrogen for running machines, to building an eco-community for rural retires.  The most interesting conversation involved carbon taxes.  Government research at Scion proved that only 15 trees per hectare were required to make that hectare carbon neutral, backed up by regulations across Scandinavia.  That research, although known to politicians has been dumped for carbon taxes. 

November 18^th 2024, Canterbury Curious Cockies, Cheviot, Canterbury

We visited a property today, like many North Canterbury farms, still struggling with outcomes from a dry autumn and long dry winter.  With less income and stud livestock commitments, they were looking at how to simplify the business to be more efficient with labour.  They continue to explore multi-species pastures to make the most of a spring flush to move lambs on while providing good risk management in the dry.  Also toying with the idea of a permanent sacrifice paddock to reduce feeding costs during droughts.  Spring rains and a rising lamb schedule have yet to bring any confidence of a good summer.

November 12^th 2024, Hawkes Bay Curious Cockies, Waipukurau, Hawkes Bay

We spent time today with an entrepreneur who has developed a highly successful business specialising in exporting non-BSE and GE free meat products. Good business lessons here with finding a gap in the market and making the most of an opportunity.  In this instance, it’s identifying a service which is value adding by utilising waste products – offal.  Secondly, it takes advantage of being in the right place at the right time.  That’s allowed insights specific to this service to emerge for later gain – hence collecting licences.  Another important lesson is identifying the right technology, in this instance freeze dryers, to expand beyond offal products to bring in more business.  On-farm we saw an emphasis on investing in infrastructure over labour, plus techniques on managing time and making judgements when juggling a lot. 

November 1^st 2024, Aorangi Curious Cockies, Waimate, Canterbury

Every now and then Curious Cockies comes across a master and we saw that today.  No solid fertiliser in 7 years, yet takes 5 cuts of balage in 3 years without any losing any production.  R1 heifers moving onto 5,000kgDM/ha, leaving 2,500kgDM/ha on a 21 day round, no dung present.  Simply grazing management has made a huge difference and as those who visited testified, you need to see what is happening with your own eyes.  We also visited a family with a long history in the area moving to a higher proportion of younger stock to lift income and improve cash flow.  Number crunching was driving a lot of their choices.  Once their tenure becomes secure, they know where to invest, primarily infrastructure, to benefit from the many advantages they see in their place. 

October 31^st 2024, Central Curious Cockies, Alexandra, Otago

The group toured a fine wool and cattle property in probably one of the most brittle environments in New Zealand.  Their studs are run harder than commercial mobs creating a better animal requiring lower costs to perform, one that fits the landscape.  Lots of interesting insights into grazing management, pasture plants, genetics and rabbit control.  An interesting insight was market expectations for wool growing being an outside enterprise, not inside like proposed for livestock classes further south.  Next property was switching from livestock to seed production to make pivot irrigation economic.  The farmer said his best friend was a shovel and his focus was to keep fertility on the farm, not ship it next door.  It was a juggling game increasing capacity with cash flow, weather, markets, but a good network of cropping mates and professionals to optimise progress with transition. 

October 30^th 2024, Southern Curious Cockies, Edendale, Southland

With the wet winter it was interesting to see how an organic dairy farm was fairing.  Yes, they did have several spots where cows had bought up mud but they had plenty of grass and cows looked content.  Since converting, they had seen many positive changes regarding soil fertility, pasture longevity and animal performance.  They stated if they lost organic certification, they would still farm that way because among other things, it was less stressful.  We then visited a research site trialling waste streams into converted fertility products.  It is clearly showing organic matter based products reduce leaching and out perform conventional practice.  This was associated with better soil structure and active soil biology to hold nutrient in soil.  We are in danger of losing these kinds of innovations to overseas investors because big AgNZ has no interest in working with natural processes.

September 26^th 2024, Northern Curious Cockies, Hikurangi, Northland

One property today was dealing with the issue of how big do you need to be to make money.  Many smaller farms find themselves requiring off-farm income which reduces time needed to invest in on-farm activities to maximise farm income.  Beef is often the fall back enterprise and there are many issues to negotiate when processing and selling your own meat.  They were also looking at a one-off crop using the enthusiasm of their kids to create a locally saleable enterprise.  The other property has long challenged the industry narrative linking soil carbon and other practices to find cheaper paths to profit.  The pace of that has slowed due to health issues.  Triggers are often unexpected and signs are easily ignored through lack of awareness.  While we all lead busy lives, taking the opportunity to stop and listen with sympathy, to simply offer support to ensure someone is heard, is greatly appreciated.   

September 24^th 2024, Waikato Curious Cockies, Maungatautari, Waikato

Today one property focused on landscape and environmental planning.  The big benefit is improving efficiencies, especially labour and financial by creating alternative uses for paddocks taking too long to muster.  Another discovery was deferred grazing challenged 25 years of re-grassing regarding cost, effectiveness, and efficiency.  Also of importance, was committing to supplier contracts as it’s the only way farmers get rewarded for commodity production.  Then visiting makers of award winning beef.  The problem with meat businesses is how to get rid of the lower quality cuts and their business did this masterfully.  They’ve focused on highest merit genetics to lift marbling without investing in pastures and soil fertility.  They have complete control over their brand and product quality and structured the business for a fast exit strategy as no staff, handy when in your retirement years.   

July 4^th 2024 Aorangi Curious Cockies, Fairlie, Canterbury

The group visited a substantial award winning irrigated dairy farm.  Their ratio of owned to leased land significantly lifted their ROC.  They’re trialling different beef breeds for dairy beef but have kept pasture mixes and crops simple.  They’ve invested heavily into nitrate monitoring waterways and found nitrate levels only spike 24 hours when it rains and that’s fertilising up to 190kgN cap.  Created more quality pasture by reducing pivot arch from 360° and 270° and inserting another pivot.  Second farm was being leased to finance infrastructure development.  This arrangement was allowing both partes to get ahead.  The lease holders are focusing on non-traditional ways to get ahead like grazing contracts for branded livestock.  Grazing contracts cover leasing costs by grazing mature animals on hill country while finishing younger stock on crop. 

July 3^rd 2024, Central Curious Cockies, Middlemarch, Otago

The Central Curious Cockies visited a couple passionate about production and environment.  They invested in hybrid vigour to push growth rates and also milking abilities of sheep and cows to push growth.  They’ve trialled lambing older ewes twice as a way of securing extra income.  They’re also involved with wetland management in helping to establish impact of different management strategies which helped them win recent environmental awards.  Then a property that has changed quite a bit from one generation to the next.  The previous generation ran one of the largest single livestock mobs in New Zealand to balance fertility across hill country, reduce labour and improve grazing management.  The next generation has down-sized and focused on reducing labour but gaining more productivity through smaller multiple mobs with a higher cattle to sheep ratio for better flexibility. 

July 2^nd 2024, Southern Curious Cockies, Winton, Southland

Sometimes a book is all it takes to make a change.  A farmer we visited had read Brown Trotter’s Book, Rape of Our Heritage and that had led him on to making his own drenches in the 1970s.  When converting to dairying, a visitor from the UK challenged him about superphosphate use and P levels have remained fine despite not applying it for a decade.  In recent years he’s focused on accessing an industrial contaminant, lignite ash, as a fertiliser alternative for sulphur.  He also uses a bacteria to significantly reduce effluent solids and retain nitrogen.  The second property was a nice balance of flat, hill and tussock where trading cattle was expanding over sheep.  A great story was encouraging children to run their own livestock enterprises outside the family business.  This involved leasing paddocks and money from their parents at market rates to run flocks for six months and doing their own spreadsheets and negotiating contracts.  Lots of good business lessons which extended to the community as well.  The 10 year old daughter told one livestock agent to take his first selection of ewes back to the vendor as they were too skinny. 

June 25^th 2024, Hawkes Bay Curious Cockies, Palmerston North, Manawatu

The first property we visited testified to the impact of persistence with genetics.  Over 30 years selecting for what works they now have hoggets scanning 150%, ewes doing 200%.  Their observations of animal behaviour are worth noting, with mothering behaviour, what you cull cows for, give two ticks for ewes.  They’ve even noticed ewes with quads will plant a pair either side of the paddock to ensure two can drink at a time.  Many health issues are genetic, might have 3-4 animals fly blown but no matter where they are on the property, they’ll have the same dam or sire.  Next property was another example of persistence but this was for farm ownership.  Finding ways to create enterprises which didn’t require much labour and took advantage of location or landscape features was key.  Farming people brings more than financial benefits as it builds community.  A key was finding services that accumulate wealth or other synergistic advantages while getting a wage. 

June 20^th 2024, Northern Curious Cockies, Kerikeri, Northland

Visited a large property with big ambitions – produce New Zealand most resilient sheep ideal for any farmer to go down the organic path.  Starting with a Romney base, they’ve been up various cross with hair and woolless breeds.  They are measuring a wide range of production and productive traits from performance and weight gain to resilience to current diseases and parasites as well as technologies such as vaccines.  They still have a number of breeds to import to develop the programme further.  Then on to another property trying to save agricultural tools and machinery disappearing to China as scrap.  Tractors under the roof included Fordsons, Farmalls, David Browns and Allis Chalmers.  Equipment included various milk separators, old shearing hand pieces and the power plants prior to electricity, and farm staple, chainsaws.  In the eighties, the bank left him alone because he owed more than the farm was worth.  Through luck, determination and an illegal (farm based) activity, he did the one thing the bank never thought he would achieve, farm ownership. 

June 18^th 2024, Waikato Curious Cockies, Mangatarata, Waikato

The group visited with a couple selling their own organic meat products preservative free.  They’ve developed a small farm system allowing them to run two other businesses which help fund on-farm projects to fit with their brand including a wetland.  They’re exploring methods to improve pasture production and practices to minimise problems with heavy soils.  One observation they’ve noticed animals do not look for shade when nitrogen not being used.  Have plenty of farm shade but animals do not seek it when given opportunities.  The second was an organic dairy which uses their herd home to maximise pasture growth.  Soils are silt/peat over marine clay, easily water logged and neighbour is one of the largest swamps in Waikato.  Multi-species mixes drive pasture production.  A local DairyNZ group facilitator held a field day there and was so impressed with the amount of grass grown without urea, he left the agency because he couldn’t find anybody interested in what this family discovered. 

June 11^th 2024, Canterbury Curious Cockies, Kaikoura, Canterbury

We met a master today.  The first in three generations to own the family farm outright while involved with community politics, multiple enterprises and getting four kids through boarding school.  So how do you gain ownership without cranking up production?  Set up a simple system to allow for off-farm opportunities, farm every season for drought and accumulate and sit on any excess feed to sell in the dry.  Use location and property features to take advantage of tourists and carbon credits while creating enterprises to allow the next generation a way in.  Then on to a couple creating their own cash cow to drive development in their business after realising conventional systems were not going to work.  They’ve worked hard to create the right animals for their operation but know they need more.  They’ve started developing their own products with the aim of marketing to all traffic passing through Kaikoura, a million opportunities per year.  With over half the farm in native bush, another big challenge is how to generate an income from that. 

June 6^th 2024 Marlborough Curious Cockies, Renwick, Marlborough

We visited two contrasting properties but both running multiple enterprises.  The smaller property ran livestock, crops and grapes but had also tried farming people with a maize maze to capture the summer market.  They had shifted from dairy grazing to breeding cows to allow more opportunity for crops, particularly cereals and seeds but are also aware relying on harvesting contractors is a serious limitation.  They had a strong vision for the property coupled with a family history going back 180 years.  The second property, livestock were second fiddle to grapes but still had to stand on its own finances.  The strong wine brand has been the backbone for developing stock water and fencing to improve effectiveness of hill country grazing management.  This investment is to create a particular theme for the property’s branding which products included woollen apparel and high end meats to add to various wines.  An interesting reality about the power of branding was customers live by brand values, they don’t care where the product is from.

May 28^th 2024 Aorangi Curious Cockies, Methven, Canterbury

The group visited a cropping property where they are working towards a more environmentally friendly cropping programme.  The challenge is moving in that direction when there isn’t any financial reward and yields are inconsistent.  Seed production is more challenging using regen than forage production.  Seed treatments are more beneficial for production than anything that comes later.  The toy of the day was a sifter for Johnson-Su compost.  Targeting delivery of nutrients will be their focus as inputs costs rise.  Then visited a dry stock operation trying many different treatments including commercial biological brews, seawater, bitterns and electromagnetic gismos.  As an ex-cropping farm soils were compacted, no earthworms, and a stalled nitrogen cycle.  Their attitude was if they apply everything, they won’t find what their limiting factor is.  Animals graze whole plants to the soil surface often compromising pasture recoveries.  Last summer the dry stock property held 25% more moisture than the family dairy land next door. 

May 2^nd 2024 Central Curious Cockies, Cromwell, Otago

Visited a couple of iconic properties.  The first was about to celebrate being on their property 100 years.  Tenure review forced them to rethink traditional methods.  They started with a governance board and began making changes, primarily subdivision, fertiliser and pastoral development.  Their mantra is keeping things simple regarding livestock management.  In recent years they’ve diversified into horticulture as part of an investment strategy.  The second property championed drones to reduce labour.  They also worked with soil conditioners for nearly a decade and were experiencing good results.  They were very much traditionists in other respects.  There were just starting to explore how to tap into passing recreational tourists to fund community services.

April 30^th 2024, Southern Curious Cockies, Balfour, Southland

The group visited a farm exploring crossing dairy breeds to find their ideal animal; smaller, good production and invisible in the mob (no problems).  An interesting conversation explored the difference between BW and following pedigrees when choosing breeding stock.  This difference makes a significant impact on production, however, a high producing, low BW herd will always be second fiddle to a high BW, low producing herd in the sharemilking game.  I find it surprising how many farmers who consider themselves conventional questioning industry advice.  We also looked at a property where grazing management had wobbled causing a lot of mature feed and discussed management options to get on top of that.  We had a good look at Kiwitech trough systems as stock water was an issue. 

April 23^rd 2024, Canterbury Curious Cockies, Waipara, Canterbury

Today the group visited sheep and beef properties working their way through a dry autumn.  Both were leasing from families, successful with winter crops, trading livestock classes, getting stock water sorted for higher flow rates and staying away from alternative fertilisers.  One admitted all development and trading costs came from cash flow, hence no interest to pay.  The other had diligently worked through an array of on-farm fertiliser experiments to find accuracy and reliability.  There was debate over whether lucerne or raphno was the better crop to lift summer production.  Upon asking older members of Curious Cockie Club what would they change 20 years ago, all mentioned adding interventions such as genetics, crops, trees.  None spoke of changing management.  Both farmers spoke of fodder crops saving them, and despite both admitting grazing management issues neither were exploring how to fix them.  How often do farmers use “safe” industry interventions instead of questioning and enhancing their own skills and judgements? 

March 26^th 2024, Aorangi Curious Cockies, Ikawai, Canterbury

Visited a long time organic farming couple who sell all their own produce.  The realised early on they needed a market driven business as their small property did not have the scale to chase intensive production.  They tried a number of enterprises till they settled on pastured poultry.  In feeding their own grain through chickens, they return 20-30 tonnes of nutrients (Overseer) which is more than they could purchase, thereby being self-contained.  One chook took a shine to one of the group – pictured.  The second property had gone through a massive development programme to realise more from irrigation and better quality pasture double stock units within 8 years.  They dropped rearing hoggets to run dairy grazers because they return more while making it easier to destock during tough times because no emotional connection to genetics.  The nature of soil structure makes cultivation troublesome so they are now switching drills to also prevent lifting rocks.  A decent stock water system has been the backbone of success to date.

7^th March 2024, Northern Curious Cockies, Tangowahine and Ruatangata, Northland

Spent time today with a farmer who brings hard business experience to farm management meaning if it doesn’t make money, it’s gone.  In purchasing an adjacent property to his dairy farm, we looked at infrastructure investment, primarily drainage and stock water to lift the property’s performance.  We discussed options for worn out and pugged soil, alligator weed control and pasture mixes.  A trial with AgResearch found 4ha of bananas would deal with all effluent but couldn’t find a way to make it pay.  We visited another property to learn about the lime quarry there and how they mixed lime with fertiliser products to create blends for clients.  Then an enthusiastic talk about kiwi which are an incredibly hardy animal.  This property has a strong population as the owners shoot stray dogs which are the biggest predator for adult birds.  Stoats are the greatest predator for chicks.  Stoats are targeted with 1080 in bait stations rather than aerial drops.  This changed my view about the poison.  Bait stations target rats and possums which stoats eat reducing their avoidance of bait stations and minimising poison in the environment. 

5^th March 2024, Waikato Curious Cockies, Hamilton, Waikato

Today the group visited a couple of innovators.  One dairy farmer decreased his fertiliser use by 2/3 only for his production to increase by 30%.  He simply put standard soluble fertilisers in water and applied them every 14 days.  Won’t get that idea from MPI or fert reps.  Getting the basics right was important.  Opening spring round was 70 days and didn’t drop below 32 days for the milking season.  He wanted his cows eating “silage” grass as it was better for them.  The second property was focusing on genetics to shift a 400kg cattle beast to the works instead of a 700kg.  This increases turnover, achieves improves feed efficiency, and complies better with environmental and winter weather considerations.  Both were focusing on longer pasture recoveries between grazing, over 30 days.  Both believed best to work with what pasture you have rather than chasing production with new pastures.  Neither into crops as soils take five years to recover from maize.  Not sure either would ever be acknowledged by the industry.

28^th February 2024, Central Curious Cockies, Ranfurly, Otago

Visited a driven entrepreneur focusing on deer and the unfair advantages they can bring compared to traditional sheep and beef.  While they work hard on traditional animal performance around venison and velvet, that’s not where all the opportunities are in the high country.  Taking advantage of rugged landscapes to farm people and their hobbies (whether weapons or cameras) allows farmers to capture the appreciating gain of trophy animals.  It also exposes farmers to business thinkers and thereby access to resources traditional operations struggle to find.  Then to a cropping farm supplying poultry and bread industries by taking advantage of the high sunshine hours of the Maniototo.  The focus here being precision based farming with irrigation, agrichemicals and fertiliser.  Beef livestock grazed across half the property providing another income stream.  While costs have inflated, the variability within gross margins for traditional grains appears to be the same as it was when I was a student 30 years ago. 

27^th February 2024, Southern Curious Cockies, Catlins, Southland

Saw a dairy farm today where the sole focus was EFS/kgMS.  This focus has moved them away from traditional practices to; once-a-day milking, being fully self-contained, no calf meal, no urea (10 years) no ryegrass (cocksfoot better for them), fully solar so no electricity expenses, closed herd for 10 years and other innovations.  They’ve not used teat seal and dry cow therapy for several years.  They reason why milk high somatic cell count cows that require teat sealing and dry cow when getting rid of them earlier reduces milk contamination, allows more grass for healthier animals and no animal health bill?  Also visited a property on the wild southern coast.  In another life the owner used to sell meat directly to ex-military wanting a carnivore diet.  Now building a business around 200 beef cows while taming rushes, swamps and flax.  With DoC as a neighbour, cows fight wild pigs for grass.  Infrastructure investment is key to reduce labour and deal with southern coast weather.  The problem when buying a property is that fences and tracks are often rated at zero meaning properties that look cheap seldom are. 

20^th February 2024, Hawkes Bay Curious Cockies, Dannevirke, Manawatu

The Hawkes Bay Curious Cockies had a day on monitoring.  They visited a couple of dairy farms, both milking once-a-day.  The first was regenerating its soils after being hammered by nitrogen use.  Animal behaviour and performance was now improving after a five year journey.  Production was the barometer for this business, even more important while being organic and limited to what supplements can be used.  The second property was all about biological controls for plant weeds.  We focused specifically on thistles as cinnabar moths had already done their work and ragwort had largely disappeared for the season.  We were introduced to the Green Thistle Beetle, Thistle Receptacle Weevil and the Vagrant Twitcher.    Farmers having the time to stop and notice what is happening to plants is undervalued.  Like most things in farming, if you don’t do it yourself, somebody will offer a service and costs you don’t need.

12^th February 2024, Marlborough Curious Cockies, Rai Valley, Marlborough

The group visited the greenery of the Rai Valley in stark contrast to most of Marlborough currently.  In visiting a couple of dairy farms, both heavily involved with wetland restoration projects.  The funding for these projects has sped up progress by years.  Both properties were conscious of their nitrogen use and were mitigating issues by applying it in moderation.  Both had released dung beetles as part of catchment activities.  The group was introduced to a great example of looking at returns per grass kg eaten as a way of identifying good profitable complimentary enterprises.  The role of production forestry as an additional income source was also explored.  Forestry can be a useful succession option, something to start early.

8^th February 2024, Canterbury Curious Cockies, Rakaia Valley, Canterbury

The group visited a couple of properties in a challenging environment.  Both businesses are improving meat production while retaining robust wool production from merinos.  Tenure review and becoming freehold created financial freedom to move away from traditional management.  Both farmers are focusing on efficiency of time management to fit in their wider industry roles.  The big difference was where each farmer was in their journey.  While both were questioning practices and management, it’s time on the land observing and experimenting that creates a quiet confidence about what works.  The ability to explain how livestock stimulate biodiversity and improve ecosystem services in this kind of landscape is something both farmers needed more confidence in.  Don’t get that from FEP workshops. 

7^th December 2023, Northland Curious Cockies, Maungaturoto, Northland

The property we visited today had a lot to offer.  Its highlighted the importance of measuring and keeping things simple.  Now trading winter lambs and bulls.  All flexibility came through trading, no supplements, silage, hay, crops or re-grassing.  As a local monitor farm, they started looking at how to grow and harvest lots of grass cheaply, essentially taking advantage to grow grass in winter.  This has allowed them to keep kikuyu at bay.  Fertiliser has been minimal, some 25kgs/ha.  Biggest investment was a water scheme to keep bulls happy.  Lambs avoid winter pugging allowing grass to grow earlier and thickens swards.  Allows pastures to seed naturally which reduces weeds.  To excel at farming must work with what you have.  Also involved with research into poplars.  Will replace original poplar with Kawa as it has a market value.  Doesn’t plant in riparian areas as on a floodplain.  Just does basics well, no chasing markets – it just works…

5^th December, 2023, Waikato Curious Cockies, Rotorua, BoP

Today we visited a dairy farm where a change in fertiliser practice has kicked along a number of benefits resulting in better animal health and performance.  In 10 years milk solids have doubled despite an absence of phosphate fertiliser over that period, MUNs down to single figures, somatic cell count under 100,000, with an empty rate of 12.5% after 9 weeks.  Been all grass for nine years as crops failed early on.  Doing his best to farm like the old fellas but with a little technology.  The second farm would be any young fellas dream, big area with few paddocks.  However, with a long history of silage harvesting, not much investment in stock water makes grazing a challenging exercise as it necessitates multiple mobs.  The group suggested a few ways to improve the water situation.  That seems to be the only thing holding the farmer back as feed on-hand impressed the group.

28^th November 2023, Canterbury Curious Cockies, Waipara, Canterbury

Checked out two properties of contrasting sizes with both fine tuning how to make a dollar.  The smaller property used small parcels of land as a way of expanding land area through peppercorn rentals.  However, this puts pressure on time and grazing management by reducing stock control for optimising grazing and other services such as fertility transfer.  Their stock policy focuses on higher fertility shedding sheep to pump out more lambs with less cost as dropping wool allows ewes to have more lambs and pump more into them.  The larger property direct marketed meat and other products.  They are becoming more specific about targeting consumers with money, the retired.  On-farm they are going back to basics, doing more with less.  An important factor here was getting staff involved with management, like researching options for capital purchases like machinery.  Both properties had diversified to reduce risk but were now narrowing options that worked best for them.

2^nd November 2023, Hawkes Bay Curious Cockies, Waipukurau, Hawkes Bay

Visited an organic dairy farm proving the value of organics.  The owners previous life in banking highlighted production systems have little impact on profits.  Profit is always down to the farmer.  High input systems increase risk, hence look so attractive in good years yet always have issues compared to low input systems in poor years.  Right now, income down 25% but FWE down 50%.  Efficiency comes before production.  Took a number of years to switch to organics but once crossed over positive financial results materialised within a year.  By year two, stress gone as finances stacking up.  Challenged regen guys about having a foot in each camp as agrichemicals can only knock pastoral and cropping ecosystems out of balance.  Conventional system underwhelming as simply decide production you want and then work backwards.  Makes every year look good but doesn’t prepare you for unexpected events.

27^th October 2023, Aorangi Curious Cockies, Geraldine, Canterbury

The focus today was genetics.  The first property is part of Beef and LambNZ trial into breeding low input rams.  A strong focus was intestinal worm resilience which is measured by growth rate.  Not a single ewe has been drenched for 23 years.  Clovers are best for assisting lambs to deal with worms.  With methane, ration doesn’t affect high emitters.  Dags account for 95% of flystrike, even on shoulders.  With the second property, focus was cattle.  Carcass weight is everything as don’t get enough premium for marbling.  Rib is key, rump has no relevance.  However, an interesting conundrum is processors don’t want back fat but commercial operators do because they want cattle to groom pastures for other livestock classes.  Bought a dairy farm to have cows that earn cash while carrying stud embryos.  Both properties looked to spread risk by focusing on multiple livestock classes for cash flow.

26^th October 2023, Central Curious Cockies, Middlemarch, Otago.

First property was an intensive lamb finishing place integrated into a larger organisation with its own supply chain for market premiums.  While the focus had been around optimising business performance, they were now starting to look at ways of improving shelter to stop soil erosion and help lengthen growing season into the dry.  While chicory was core for finishing branded lambs, the majority were finished on lucerne and mixed pastures.  They use deferred grazing to strengthen pasture longevity.  The second property had a long family history in the area.  Tenure review allowed the business to take new directions by freeing up capital.  Water is a huge issue and investment in storage is ongoing for their success.  Culled ewes hard to get rid of feet problems.  Interesting conversations around production benefits of land at different altitudes.  Also how locking up land for conservation was decreasing biodiversity in instances.  Ongoing issues with DoC were mentioned with both properties today. 

25^th October 2023, Southern Curious Cockies, Balfour, Southland

Visited two contrasting properties.  The first an organic dairy farm where the business plan has been to minimise inputs to lift ROI.  They’ve invested in hay making implements that require smaller tractors to run, hay dryer to reduce various issues around silage and composting barn to recycle nutrients.  They believe their cow breed also costs less to run because it needs less sugar in winter.  Halter has been useful but timing of collars may have affected conception rates.  Comfortable with a lower production system so future challenges will be whether the reductions in premiums will be enough to keep things on-track.  The second sheep and beef property demonstrated the benefit of mature shelterbelts in a howling northerly.  Investing in infrastructure early has allowed them flexibility now to spend time with kids.  Had an interesting discussion around riparian management comparing stream banks under completely different management.  Without grazing woody weeds have dominated creating a fire risk before falling in and clogging up the waterway. 

5^th October 2023 Northern Curious Cockies, Maungatapere, Northland

Today was an opportunity to explore tropical fruits for grazing operations.  The focus was bananas as they are the easiest crop to grow and have a huge potential to elbow into the current NZ banana market of 73 million kgs.  There are many income streams for bananas, there is the fruit, plus pups for transplanting, leaves, flowers, honey, even the starchy centres of stems have a market.  The banana fruit can be easily processed to provide new income streams beyond fresh fruit.  Bananas love effluent but fed it they produce more pups lowering fruit production.  Bagging bananas reduces marking and bird pecks with one farmer designing his own bagging machine.  Most tropical fruit, except pineapples, can be grown in poorer soils including coffee, papaya and mangoes.  In many cases it’s likely these fruit will generate more income on steeper hillsides than growing grass. 

3^rd October 2023 Waikato Curious Cockies Matamata and Tirau, Waikato

The group visited an organic dairy which also sold it’s own milk.  They were early converters to organic, Gavin Fisher was their inspiration.  Fonterra doubled the payout for organic milk the day they signed marketing contracts meaning they’ve had a challenging journey in creating a product that has stood on its own merits without any advertising.  They’ve found Halter really useful but will question its role as price climbs.  As the next generation expands into horticulture on the home farm, milking is likely to move elsewhere.  At the dairy/beef property we visited next we learned about growing cattle with lower emissions.  Secret was optimising growth rates at younger ages thereby optimising turnover.  No Wagyu here because they take so long to grow out resulting in higher emissions.  Pasture fed dairy beef will replace bobby calves and come at the expense of sheep and beef.  An interesting observation was measuring success of maize crop by cob weight, up to 440grams/cob with 2.5 cobs per plant instead of using DM weights. 

17^th August 2023, Hawkes Bay Curious Cockies, Waipawa, Hawkes Bay

The group visited two research trials, one looking at pasture species and the other focusing on grazing management.  The pasture trial is looking at different pasture mixes to determine which provides better resilience and production for the local area, particularly for drought.  They include a very diverse mix, plantain and white clover and ryegrass and white clover.  An important factor for drought resilience will be soil carbon levels which they are measuring down to 60-cms.  They plan using E-Shepherd to create more flexibility with multiple daily shifts.  The second trial is comparing set stocking and adaptive grazing at the same stock density to see if moving animals faster at the same stock density influences pasture dynamics.  Due to wet conditions stock density was lowered to prevent soil damage which changed the grazing regime for the winter months.  Research has already documented a difference in dung distribution of the two grazing practices with set-stocking showing a distinct “camping” dung pattern compared to grazing practice that moves livestock faster through breaks.  It will be interesting to see how these dung patterns affect the distribution of fertility over time.  Both projects are still too early for pasture results to be shared. 

July 4^th 2023 Canterbury Curious Cockies, Oxford, Canterbury

The group enjoyed visiting a couple grafting away at building their dream hill country property.  The struggle to find a system that works was made clear as its taken 10 years to realise it’s better to take their profits early.  By selling lambs store their breeding stock have a free run for flushing and lambing by not competing with younger stock.  Fencing is a priority over fertiliser this season, smart because the return on fencing outlasts fertiliser by years.  Creating other enterprises which bring the public on to the property isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and despite juggling groups and their expectations, the income from them reduces risk.  The second property had been farmed by the same couple coming up 60 years.  However, covid proved devastating for them as livestock companies ignored their situation to shift stock burdening them with huge feed bills.  In this industrialised world, the problem with being a small commodity farm is it leaves you at the end of a long queue for labour, marketing, and finance.  

June 29^th 2023, Central Otago Curious Cockies in Wanaka and Cromwell, Otago

The group visited one of the few properties in its valley focusing on farming through deer mostly, with cattle and sheep.  Their motto is to keep up with regulations as that increases property value so they invest in planting and fencing, something they’re especially mindful of due to public access along their boundary.   They enjoy a close relationship with SFF and their scenery brings marketing opportunities for the company.  They also experiment and found a bio-active fertiliser dealt to grass grub.  Also on the dance card today was a carbon zero orchard where electricity is replacing all fossil fuel technologies such as vehicles, fertilisers and agrichemicals.  Even humans will be replaced by self-driven tractors with Gopro cameras linking every tree’s QR code with its productive behaviours.  However, still need humans for picking…

June 27^th 2023, Southern Curious Cockies, Otautau, Southland

Visited a property renown for trying many different things including being one of the first composting barns.  Finding the right carbon source for bedding is challenging, despite forestry at their doorstep.  Then there’s the old question of building a barn and then needing to autumn calve to utilise and pay for the asset; did the financial gains reduced the workload?  And why is it you can spend years spraying ragwort, but it goes after a single peppering?  How come the professionals can’t explain that?  The riddles of farming are never ending.  Then we visited with a couple who stumbled into an enterprise which appears to have the enviable ability to significantly grow from its own cashflow.  They’ve come from a line of different farming enterprises early in their career.  Dairy offered the security of simplifying business operations but that came at the risk of being in a cooperative.  The new line of business reduces that risk.

June 15^th 2023, Waikato Curious Cockies, Paeroa and Te Aroha, Waikato

The group visited an interesting property in that they set stock sheep and cattle all year round.  They swap where each class of livestock graze every six months.  The farmer found as he intensified production, labour became a critical factor.  So reducing labour and simplifying everything made more money for him.  This wet season allowed him to rest paddocks over summer instead of capitalising on more stock purchases but dry seasons are a challenge.  Then the group visited an organic dairy looking to integrate beef production with their runoff block beef herd to meet the changing nature of the industry.  They were dealing with high soil zinc levels due to previous owners dosing for facial eczema but do not get facial eczema now.  There was also the industry issue of so few dairy staff having experience of System 1 or 2 and the problem of meeting sharemilker maximising production expectations with lower input production systems.

June 13^th 2023, Northland Curious Cockies, Dargaville, Northland.

The group today visited the Northland Agricultural Research Farm which is undergoing a SFFF trial using three dairy herds to find out which pasture systems can handle warmer conditions.  The Low Emission (no N pasture) trial surprised with up to 50% clover over summer and this season was more profitable than “Current” practice trial due to a combination of better grazing management, a lower milk price and high fertiliser prices.  However, the Alternative Pasture mix trial (75% of pasture in cocksfoot, tall fescue, clovers and herbs and 25% in ryegrass and kikuyu) has been the most consistent to date in terms of production and profit regarding the challenging weather conditions.  All pastures succumb to recent flooding except kikuyu and had to be resown.  Then we visited sand country farmers who had practiced organic farming for 18 years and their multi-species pastures have proven more reliable over time.  Both properties are struggling with grazing techniques which maintain diversity of pasture mixes but the second farmers commented in moving from dairy to beef, pastures became more diverse due to less intensity.

June 7^th 2023, Hawkes Bay Curious Cockies, Marton and Grasslands, Massey, Manawatu

The group visited a Wiltshire stud that could trace its origins to the first Wiltshires brought to NZ in the early 1970s.  The owner’s family bought them to get into the T-grade carcass market in the early 80s.  That led into performance recording to ensure traits were of value to the NZ market.  Using DNA techniques is the next step to push further development.  The group also visited the GHG methane laboratory which provided a great stimulus about nutrition, greenhouse gases, and animal performance.  Understanding an artificial rumen is a collection of glass jars in an enclosed oven helped highlight how the process of measuring rumen chemistry is fraught with compromises compared to the real thing.  For example, rumen walls absorb gases, massage the paunch and is buffered with a regular supply of saliva whereas glass jars don’t do any of these activities.  What’s also interesting is they need the initial rumen liquid from a real beast as its impossible to create it in the lab artificially.  The frank discussions we had were enlightening and entertaining as scientists grapple between industry expectations and reality.

May 25^th 2023, Aorangi Curious Cockies, Methven and Maronan, Canterbury

The group visited a cropping property weaning itself off agrichemical which has been a challenging journey for the owner.  With so little research looking into that space there was a robust conversation about the value of farmers conducting their own research in hap-hazard ways, particularly when seasons have been so variable.  And then how do you compete with successful cropping systems that externalise impacts of agrichemical residues?  Best way forward is small groups of farmers with common interests to share ideas among themselves.  The second property has a large pasture egg production enterprise.  Originally, they were for moving behind dairy cows but with the costs of setting up the business and labour, that has been shelved for the time being.  One thing they plan doing is using electric netting to create lanes to concentrate manure more evenly on their current site.  Chickens were originally considered to reduce pasture pests.  Cheapest way of beating pests is eating them.

May 16^th 2023, Southern Curious Cockies, Kennington and Waianawa, Southland

The group visited the BioActive Soils factory at Kennington to hear about their products and the impact they are having on crops and pastures.  Their products are fish based and use a variety of driers and bioreactors to create their line of solid products.  About half the finished product is enzymes, the rest being their food.  One farmer in the group has used their product down the chute instead of broadcasting and achieved very good results.  The property we visited were over-wintering 1300 cows on crop and pasture.  They’re in their first season of trialling multi-species crop but have yet to establish how the biomass compares to their monoculture of kale.  However, one benefit has been it costs less than half the price of kale.  Their long term goal is to be all grass wintering.

May 4^th, 2023 Canterbury Curious Cockies, Cheviot, Canterbury

Visited a farmer today focusing on creating an animal that not only fitted his landscape but was bringing wool back to his district.  By developing ¼ Breds that can pump out a 75mm staple in six months, shearing twice a year can be profitable with the right wool contract.  After two wet summers he knows feet are sorted, next is improving resilience to intestinal worms.  We then visited a member of the group just before he went off to a dinner to collect an award for prime beef.  But tucked away was an example of his ingenuity designing a silvopasture with many different deciduous trees.  Being on a northern slope, the lanes it created allowed better grazing control, reducing turf grasses like browntop and encouraging tuft grasses like cocksfoot.  The combination of shade and pasture species should increase resilience for drier summers when they return.

April 13^th 2023 Hawkes Bay Curious Cockies, Carterton, Wairarapa

Visited a property where stock water was the limiting factor in moving things forward.  Can’t slake the thirst of 400 steers with 15mm pipe.  Also host decided not to use any high analysis fertiliser for 7 years and to date things still going strong.  The debate over set-stocking verses rotational grazing came down what are you trying to achieve?  Repairing damage usually requires moving livestock.  Then visited a property that had no fertiliser or lime for 35 years.  They specialise in growing stud rams and ewes on low octane feed, the complete opposite of industry practice.  Even in a normal dry season, triplet lambs with reach 40kgs liveweight by late January and late weaning with the main ewe flock averaging 155% lambing to the ram.   An interesting moment was jumping the fence to compare soils from an intensive grazing property.  Despite the pasture being a multi-species mix, the soil was less friable and had active grass grubs, something completely absent from our host’s soil and mature pasture. 

March 2^nd and 3^rd 2023 Central Curious Cockie Club, Ohai, Mossburn, and Kingston, Southland

The Central Curious Cockies visited an iconic southern station to get a grasp of farming at a very large scale.  The focus was to simplify systems and develop better communication between staff which highlighted the challenges of large operation to changes in culture and management systems.  Then checked an amazing smaller property with nearly every paddock surrounded with hedgerows of flax and trees making it ideal for possible tourists with a cycleway nearby.  Again, they were aiming to create simple systems requiring less labour as they aged.  The last property was switching to cropping from dry stock. Moving though large scale development associated with changing land use was complicated by the potential for a lot of new neighbours very quickly.  Wildings pines on their hill country was another concern.  No matter their size, all of these business were looking at simplifying systems as complicated systems only breeds costs.

February 28^th and March 1^st 2023 Aorangi Curious Cockie Club, Balclutha, Otago

The group headed south to check out three iconic farmers in South Otago.  The first property grabbed our attention with rainfall declining 20% in ten years on a rolling average and the use of a coal pit to put trace minerals back on the land.  The next property was looking at how to become more self-contained and exploring the value of silvoculture and even pondering the idea of grazing dairy cows and sheep together.  Another property was focusing on simplification of grazing and production systems to optimise lamb growth when grass available and then dumping stock to allow the property to recover over the rest of the summer.  All properties were focusing on profit because banks value cash over biological capital.

February 27^th 2023, Southern Curious Cockie Club, Manapouri, Southland

The Southern Curious Cockies ventured to Manapouri today to look at a couple of interesting properties.  Both had gone through significant changes regarding grazing management with one saying it had lifted pasture production by 20%.  We also saw ingenuity at its best with biological brews using everything from cray skeletons to rice, milk, fish and molasses.  We saw a completely different grazing management with long/tall pastures which was reducing fertiliser use while maintaining profitability.  The dropping of ryegrass for fescue, hogget mating and winter crops was producing a welcome bonus for the farmer, all paddocks being available in spring.  That reduces risk.

February 23/24, 2023, Waikato Curious Cockie Club, Normanby, Opunake, and Whanganui

The group visited three properties to explore different systems.  One dairy without fertiliser and agrichemical with record beating production for many years was pouring money into feeding its cows.  The group was left shocked about the financial reality of that.  Another property had a horticultural enterprise growing seeds for eating.  Drought had shifted their focus to ensure better livestock enterprise resilience by dropping cows for steers.  Another property was trying collar technology and assigning landscape designers for in-paddock shelter lines.  Their stories of the attitudes of DairyNZ and dairy in general towards organic dairy producers were hilarious even though DairyNZ use them as a case study demonstrating the business value of organic production. 

February 20^th, 2023, Hawkes Bay Curious Cockie Club, Dannevirke, Hawkes Bay

This week this group was to visit a property that was leading the way with insects as biological controls for pasture weeds.  The devastation from the recent storm meant the day was cancelled but I visited the property anyway because this is the time of year to see was the farmer gets so excited about.  A huge grass grub and porina attack two years decimated pastures so now thistles and ragwort are in plague proportions.  With four insects attacking ragwort and at least two more predating thistles the farmer was confident that within 3 years these weeds would be below 5% of the area now.  Observation skills are important with these insects as identifying age and stage of plant growth is useful because plant predation occurs at different stages and ages.  In addition, an understanding of what management and conditions causes these plants to establish and thrive is also useful.

February 14^th, 2023, Canterbury Curious Cockie Club, Hawarden, Canterbury

The group visited North Canterbury to check out a couple of properties where the owners are quite savvy about what they focus on.  Both have long established that season determines stocking rate, not the property.  Many farmers struggle with this idea.  That said, one will purchase feed, the other would rather destock.  Both also are into systems that minimise labour where minimising mobs is key, one will put all classes of livestock in one mob to graze grass, the other minimises stock classes and uses crop and silage to target nutrition.  Both are happy to spend money, one by measuring productive traits such as DNA testing, the other infrastructure such as fence and water.  Both were figuring out ways to help children buy their way into the family farm either through purchasing smaller blocks of land or backing start-ups.  As a result, the day offered a range of ideas to deal with a number of common farming family issues.

December 8^th, 2022, Waikato Curiosity Club, Okere Falls and Paengaroa, Bay of Plenty

The group revisited a property that operates without electricity so the technologies for fencing and especially stock water were of interest as energy costs rise.  They were trying higher grazing residuals and deferred grazing with dairy grazers to find what suits the property and pushing feed further into summer.  All the rain is providing plenty of confidence to try things.  A second property visited had the notoriety of having grass and good stock when others were struggling.  We found they were happy to defer grazing and ration that out in February.  With the current wet conditions, they were happy to trample grass instead of eating it.  Deferred paddocks are chosen at random and with different paddocks each year.  They also buy spring silage to get through dry autumns.  An important contribution to farm income came from their small kiwifruit orchard, the management of which is contracted out. 

December 6^th, 2022, Northland Curiosity Club, Te Kao, Northland

There aren’t many large sheep operations in Northland so visiting a property that has 8,000 is a novelty.  Too much Poll Dorset lowers lamb survival by reducing skin thickness.  We quickly learned barbers pole worm is particularly challenging as it strikes during lambing making oral drenching challenging.  Two-tooths in particular, are most susceptible at this time.  Ticks seem to be worse on soils with low pH.  Geese always arrive in paddocks the day before livestock.  Wiping rushes with herbicide significantly lifts pasture production by improving drainage.  Bulls rotate around cells anywhere from 40-60 days depending on time of year.  All bull calves are kept entire and added to the bull system.  Beef bulls much easier to manage than Friesian bulls.  An interesting observation regarding the spread of mangroves since fencing off the harbour was that cows would graze mangrove saplings and keep them in check.

November 24^th 2022, Aorangi Curiosity Club, Tekapo, Canterbury

For a change of scene, the group visited the Mackenzie basin to look at lupins and biological controls.  The first property was an education into lupins and its ability to thrive in cold, dry climates with high aluminium soils.  Management of alkaloids is avoided somewhat by grazing during flowering when they reduce significantly.  Sheep eat lupins more readily than cattle.  The other property had introduced a variety of insects to combat weeds, mainly horehound and broom.  There too lupins were pivotal where they harvested seeds and spun them elsewhere but on better soils lucerne played a greater role.  The photo shows the impact of lupins to produce feed and sequester carbon versus Dept of Conservation land.  As only green plants can sequester carbon, the photo demonstrates how DoC’s use of the tool of rest is exacerbating climate change due to lack of disturbance.

November 22^nd, 2022, Canterbury Curiosity Club, Waiau, Canterbury

The group visited Waiau to look at a couple of local properties.  The first farm was to check out various enterprises the family was involved in and recovery from the earthquakes.  It appears to single biggest impact was building a laneway to allow trucks to move deeper into the farm to collect livestock from a central point.  The farmer saw the looming energy crisis as an opportunity to provide fuel for commercial pellet burners.  The second property was moving away from cropping and the high price, high risk cropping model to more reliable production markets such as grass.  Looking to build soil structure and using multi-species mixes.  With the regional council moving beyond Overseer as the only tool for environmental compliance, the farmer saw the future being more equitable as increasing dialogue between council and farmers deliver more insights into farming operations. 

November 17^th 2022, Central Otago Curiosity Club, Cromwell and Luggate, Otago

The first property this group visited was moving a mob of 6,000 mixed aged ewes (including hoggets) and lambs three times a day from tailing to weaning.  Running such a large mob eliminated electric fencing thereby reducing labour units compared to before when splitting 5ha paddocks into four and running smaller mobs to achieve a similar grazing regime.  Each shift takes about 30 minutes and is followed by a mob of 400 cows and calves also shifted in sync.  The afternoon visit focused on carbon forestry and other enterprises that could be associated with it.  It provided the group with options beyond planting pines such as silviculture.  The drop-trap for harvesting rabbits also interested the group, although things can get exiting when opening it up and coming face to face with a feral cat or ferret.

November 15^th 2022, Southern Curiosity Club, Winton and Woodlands, Southland

The southern group had an informative day with two property visits. The first visit was a Wiltshire breeder pointing out how meticulous recording was proving Wiltshires to be of productive value – even without flushing achieving 165% lambing this season.  Through documenting traits, Wiltshires are now outperforming Coopworth-Texel crosses on the same property under the same management.  The second property was a vegetable grower specialising in parsnip and carrot crops.  Length of lease is a limiting factor, getting longer term leases very important to cash in rewards with regenerative soil management – ideally parsnip needs seven years between rotations.  Organic parsnips had brix of 12, whereas conventional was half that.  Carrots have topped PGG Wrightson blind tasting event.  Focus is to reduce chemical use by 90% by replacing with biological inputs.

November 7^th 2022, Hawke’s Bay Curiosity Club, Omakere and Elsthorpe

The property we visited today has forestry to thank for many advancements.  About 20% of the property is in forestry and occupies county that would normally run about 7su/ha.  Therefore, forestry is a centrepiece of the operation.  Carbon capture is also proving to be a financial windfall and they now are connecting all the shelterbelts and wooded areas through planting poplars to claim carbon credits.  The second site visit was that of a grazing trail which is exploring how changing pre-and post-grazing residuals influence a range of impacts from animal health and performance to soil nitrogen and phosphorous loss.  The trial will include alternative fertiliser products.  The group will be having conversations around livestock density and grazing management to guide the project.

September 29^th 2022, Northland Curiosity Club, Hikurangi and Kawakawa, Northland

Today visited an organic dairy farm which had survived the very wet season by winter milking that left higher pasture residuals, thereby delaying onset of mud by six weeks compared to normal winter practice.  We also visited a bull farm that had great examples of different grazing management of kikuyu but had been saved by the mild winter allowing kikuyu to grow all the way through.  However, this will delay the emergence of productive spring grasses.  The warm wet winter meant keeping heavier animals on hillsides and younger stock on the best country to stop pugging.  The opportunities for totara timber were also explored as it grows everywhere in the north and the insight that different native trees grow on different clays was also an interesting insight.

September 27^th 2022, Waikato Curiosity Club, Maihiihi and Wharepuhunga, Waikato

Today we visited a couple taking over the family farm and grappling with confidence around how to be rewarded for contract grazing and improving grazing management.  The group had several suggestions for this couple to consider as they continue to develop their business.  Then we visited a property which had pioneered growing Paulownias and milked a very productive small dairy herd.  An interesting conversation focused on using these trees to secure carbon credits while soaking up excess nutrients as despite much official interest, no initiatives have ever been carried out in New Zealand to check out its suitability.    

August 25^th 2022, Aorangi Curiosity Club, Maungati, Canterbury

The group visited a corporate farm to look at wintering and preparing for spring.  They no longer do multi-species crops for wintering as they don’t yield.  Diverse pasture for finishing young stock works really well.  A strong interest in reducing nitrogen purchases while continuing maximum lamb growth, up to 400gs/day with irrigated country pumping out 65 lambs/ha.  Placed strong emphasis on feed supply with dates as trigger points to act one way or another.  Constantly emphasised regen farming is not about saving costs but investing in soil, therefore was trying a new fertiliser product which is bioactive.  The group hosted a local nursery to learn more about native riparian species for planting.  With all the wet weather recently, finding out which species can handle a flood zone was high on the list.

August 24^th 2022, Central Curiosity Club, Roxburgh, Otago

Visited an interesting boundary in central Otago.  One farm was growing crossbreds and relying on winter crop and lucerne stands to push production along.  Dry autumns were compromising winter crops and lucerne stands were running out of puff within a decade.  They were doing a lot of experimenting and this season are considering mating on turnips.  A point of interest was 20ha of pines to offset carbon costs.  The other property was running merinos and their focus was fencing and water infrastructure to gain better stock control rather than fertiliser to grow feed.  The group felt their irrigation block had more potential for horticulture rather than finishing steers.  The contrast in management reflected sheep breeds. Growing animals for meat rather than wool pushes a lot of actions resulting in short term gains.

July 6^th 2022, Central Curiosity Club, Wanaka and Cromwell, Otago

The theme today was alternative enterprises with the group visiting a property expanding into agritourism where the owner knows his true unfair advantage, the view.  Never looked to farming groups for inspiration but other community groups to get ideas.  Now runs New Zealand’s only private bike park with 50kms of track.  His focus is how to find enterprises that he can lease land too so he can share his panoramic view with the public.  The second site was a worm farming operation that sells worm casts and composting worms.  It recycles all the local food and orchard waste.  Using this process can save businesses like abattoirs hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in dump fees plus they can make an income. 

July 5^th 2022, Southern Curiosity Club, Wyndham and Mokotua, Southland

The group visited a couple of interesting properties.  One runs 12,000 ewes in one mob over the winter.  The purpose was to improve labour efficiency with some gateways 20m metres wide.  Been doing all grass wintering this way for 47 years.  Only one paddock of crop for hoggets.  It would have been interesting to see the cost structure to find out why family will eventually sell for trees instead of staying in sheep.  The second property was in the swamp flats (peat soils over gravels) experimenting with establishing diverse winter crops by strip till with and without spraying.  Soil properties are primary focus so using forbs to improve aeration and drainage.  The dry summer/autumn reduced yields but a warm June has helped with feed production.

June 30^th 2022, Hawkes Bay Curiosity Club, Dannevirke, Hawkes Bay

The day ended up focusing on porina/grass grub control.  The first property was challenging due to its terrain.  They began changing practices after getting conventional advice from a top firm to repeat all the things that had got them in trouble plus find $400,000 to fund it, and this was government funded drought advice!  Instead, they destocked, drops inputs, and changed their grazing.  At the second property which experienced bad grass grub they built 24 bird boxes in 30 minutes to erect in paddocks for starlings.  This activity addressed many issues; removes starlings from nesting in sheds to their food source (eat grass grubs), reduces potential for tractor fires, reuses old drench containers, plus uses mates to help out!  We then went on to see a home made strip till machine to direct seed pastures without spraying. 

June 28^th 2022, Aorangi Curiosity Club, Oamaru, Otago

The group today visited a couple of very interesting properties.  The first was a highly efficient dairy unit that basically uses no urea yet livestock manage to produce milk solids a staggering140% of their liveweight.  They do it in such a way that Fonterra does not give them any sustainability credits despite their extreme nitrogen efficiency highlighting how Fanshawe Street ideology, not evidence drives Fonterra’s sustainability regime.  The second property was dealing with several challenges including how to loosen high magnesium soils without cultivation.  Another interesting idea was composting dead livestock using sawdust. 

June 16^th, 2022, Waikato Curiosity Club, Mangatarata, Waikato

The group visited an interesting hill country property in northern Waikato where we got a run down of animal health problems plaguing Waikato as pastures come out of drought this time.  While they’ve been using fertiliser, animals are far more accurate in their placement of nutrients than Fletcher aircraft and they don’t dump cadmium on the house roof!  They will be doing more grazing with electric fencing to even fertility across the property and look to reduce mob numbers to one or two to grow more feed and prioritise own dairy heifer for when feed is short. 

May 31^st 2022, Canterbury Curiosity Club, Mt Somers and Geraldine

Canterbury group visited an interesting deer operation learning various aspect of deer production.  Prior they had tried many enterprises including cashmere goats, rearing calves, malting barley and other ideas.  Always looked at property design to improve efficiency and options, for example when an irrigated deer enterprise fell over they quickly converted to irrigated dairy.  The second property was a low input operation running Wiltshire sheep and angus cattle.  We looked at accounts to discuss options for increasing income and reducing expenses.  Always a challenge to reduce the three Fs; fertiliser, feed, and fuel.

May 5^th 2022, Northland Cockie Curiosity Club, Kaeo, Northland

The group checked out a couple of previous Northland environmental award winners.  The first property drew on over 30 years experience grazing various classes of livestock, mostly bulls.  Had no qualms about selling off breeding herd at the top of the market cycle.  Grew mostly R2 steers and heifers so steep hills were reserved for wet periods to protect flat country.  Second property focused on growing R1 bulls using kiwitech cells.  Had designed grazing movements to ensure taller pasture was always below livestock when grazing hills to capture any disturbed sediment.  There was a discussion about using banana trees to soak up nutrients from sediment traps.

22^nd March, 2022 Waikato Curiosity Club, Rotorua, Waikato

This was a day full of surprises.  The first property went through their gross margin on producing beef for direct sale.  The conversations that stirred highlighted many of the restrictions the meat industry puts in place for small producers.  We talked about how to change the traditional accounting equation away from income-costs equals expenses to gain emotional equity in creating a cash surplus.  The second property was a dairy run off.  The property was chosen for its pumice soils, great for winter drainage.  They run a nurse cow enterprise where mastitis cows from their dairy farms raise up to three calves before sold.  One of the challenges was no connection to power supply.  Tucked away in a little gulley were vacuum pumps and a water wheel pushing out 40,000 litres a day to a gravity fed system.  By tapping into a constant spring source there are no problems dealing with variable flows, even during the big rain event of the past couple of days.

17^th March 2022, Aorangi Curiosity Club, Cave, Canterbury

Our first property produced an interesting challenge.  Brassicas had only grown in patches and in lines which appeared to have no rhyme or rhythm.  Upon digging through the surface at one site we found soil completed dominated by fungi hyphae where a hay bale had been.  It seems the wet summer had created patches of fungi dominated soil which allowed brassicas to dominate.  The second property was a wealth of knowledge and inspiration about running a grazing business without crops and hay making.  Finding ways to work with nature and using science to determine root causes of problems and finding livestock health solutions not endorsed by authority.  Genetics were key to create animals that could thrive not only in their cold climate but produced offspring that thrives down country.  An insightful day

8^th March 2022, Northern Curiosity Club, Kaiwaka, Northland

The group visited a small organic dairy farm with a long family history.  Having started organic conversion five years ago they are enjoying experimenting with low input techniques.  The biggest improvement is animal health and behaviour, both contributing to lower operating costs.  Being a smaller operation time management is challenging.  The other operation was a large sheep and beef property, very profitable, excellent infrastructure, very good relationship between owners and manager, even paying for conservation efforts out of cash flow.  Like many local farms, summer crop completely failed and laid bare issues associated with large areas of monocultures, primarily opportunity for erosion.  Their long term aim is to release kiwi on the place.

3^rd March 2022, Southern Curiosity Club, Riverton, Southland

Visited a stud sheep breeder involved with low emission sheep trying to keep his clients ahead of emission taxes expected in 2030.  What’s interesting is that the whole methane tax is loaded on to livestock farmers, cropping farmers get off scott free despite the array of high emission chemicals and carbon depleting practices they employ.  This will be the legacy of research focusing on one side of the ledger, never looking at practices which sink carbon other than trees.  The second property was looking into practices they can do to reduce carbon emission while building soil carbon.  The complete switch from high intensity to a business more in tune with its resources has been an exercise in dealing with one’s ego.  Dropping winter crops for bale grazing will pay dividends, especially on peat soils.

1^st March 2022, Tarras, Otago, Central Otago Curiosity Club

Today’s properties were testimony to business skills of farmers in a challenging environment.  One property was optimising its access to water by generating stone fruit enterprises and tap into a whole new line of business away from traditional sheep and beef.  Here land development costs and crop management risks are reduced by investors and management companies while still retaining land ownership.  The other property were fine wool merino growers where they manage production and marketing themselves.  Pastoral lease has no land security these days primarily due to government agencies corrupted by ideologies rather than evidence.  Loyalty of clients was a strong driver in past and current attempts to secure market premiums in growing a unique product. 

24^th February 2022, Canterbury Curiosity Club, Oxford, Canterbury

The property we looked at today really highlighted many problems associated with unreasonable bureaucracies.  For example, flooding had sent down hundreds of tonnes of shingle and sediment, but not one stone that settled in their paddocks can be used for infrastructure like repairing laneways.  By law they must dig holes in their paddocks to find enough stone to fix flood damage.  Stock water is the weak link preventing them increasing stock density to stimulate soil biological processes in summer, reducing any possibility of growing cattle numbers and grazing at higher stock densities.  Despite a wet summer dung pats still not breaking down reflecting poor mineral/carbon cycle, possibly humates to unlock biology.  Looking at alternative income streams such as bees and hunting. 

22^nd February 2022, Hawkes Bay Curiosity Club, Palmerston North, Manawatu

The group visited two quite different properties.  The first converting to organic to graze heifers for organic dairy farms.  They were trialling multi-species pastures with success although admitted difficulties is assessing feed value/rationing of summer crop that included taller plants such as sunflowers resulting in lower than ideal liveweight gain.  The group visited an established dairy property was enjoying the gains of having a settled and great team.  Their focus is optimising livestock performance which ear tag technology was helping with regarding identifying milk fever and heat cycling for improved outcomes.  AgResearch scientists Alec MacKay and Gerald Cosgrove joined the group which will be involved with observing conventional verse regenerative grazing trials at Mangarara Station.

16^th December 2021 Southern Curiosity Club, Owaka, Otago

This group visited a couple of interesting properties at Owaka.  One is transforming into a technosystem with 10 paddock/ha, using stock density to even pasture performance and soil fertility using a range of livestock classes.  The other has been developing hedgerows for many years using New Zealand natives and trying to create an effect where animals do not park all their fertility at the fence line.  Over 100 species have been used from hebes to beech trees, many probably have value to livestock, as well as bees.  We also covered cattle carcass characteristics and finding an animal that suits your management is really the key, although it takes a few years with crosses and hybrid vigour to find that out. 

7^th December 2021, Hawkes Bay Curiosity Club, Havelock North, Hawkes Bay

Today farmers visited two properties surrounded by quite different circumstances.  One on the outskirts of town leased from developers old cropping and set stocked ground which with bull grazing has developed a vibrant pasture with only stock water and fencing to keep farm working expenses low.  The second family planted over 300,000 trees over 30 years on their organic property to change the climate without dropping stocking rate.  In fact you could argue stocking rate has increased due to all the deer now on the place.  Unfortunately due to the favourable season we didn’t see how the property contrasts with neighbouring ones but we did get to see how dryland trees produce different ecosystems in their understory compared to rainforest trees. 

2^nd December 2021, Waikato Curiosity Club, Te Aroha, Waikato

The group visited one of the most dynamic organic farms in the country.  This farmer proves the only qualification you need to be a great farmer is a drivers licence!  Observing 40 years on the same property brings so many benefits, like “knowing” how much to feed your livestock instead of calculating it daily.  Trees were the group’s focus and the benefits they bring pasture; shade, moisture, insects, all of which stimulate the environment more and lower costs.  Production figures weren’t even mentioned because as every farmer knows they seldom reveal the whole picture.  Just like regulations are never a book to farm.  Farmers in the group were impressed with clean pasture of high quality, grazing crops leaping out of the ground, and confidence of the farmer sharing his observations and experiences with what is now called regenerative farming.  Confidence, like trees, grows over time by linking outcomes to choices made.

18^th November 2021, Aorangi Curiosity Club, Geraldine Canterbury

The group visited two properties near Geraldine.  We visited the last organic dairy farm in Canterbury which will cease to exist by the end of the season.  Herd production is good per animal which has been helped in the past year with some very good multi-species cover crops.  However, with their winter milking property there is a plan to create an enterprise where Fonterra pays them to lower its carbon footprint.  Phil Gray from the NZ Soil Foodweb lab joined us to explain various aspects of soil biology, primarily around bacteria: fungi ratios in the paddock.  Then on to a traditional sheep and beef property finishing wagyu cattle.  They’ve made some changes to grazing management including rotating ewes and lambs earlier.  They’ve had good success with various multi-species mixes including using a ryecorn mix for finishing 2 year old wagyu. 

16^th November 2021, Central Curiosity Club, Naseby, Otago

The group visited Naseby to look at a property with a proud family history going back to 1920s.  Unlike many properties in the group this one consisted of a series of blocks from hills to plains.  A big contributor to success was investment in infrastructure with lanes and sheep yards within 30 minutes of any mob as well as a strong weed control ethic.  Battles with DoC and LINZ to keep a summer grazing syndicate alive were also explained really highlighting a lack of communication and respect by government agencies.  The Maniototo pest control Inc explained how their organisation emerged from changes to the pest industry, how it works and is funded, and which control methods for pastoral pests are the best; an example of how farmer control creates a successful venture. 

9^th November 2021, Canterbury Curiosity Club, Cust, Canterbury

The group visited a commercial composting facility today and we learned they make their money buy transporting and storing green waste, not the compost.  To prove it the financial value of nitrogen in their compost per tonne was three times more than its price.  No wonder they can’t keep up with demand, especially with urea at $950/tonne.  We also visited a property refining their spring grazing management running all their sheep in one mob (including rams!) to simplify grazing management.  The slow spring pasture growth necessitating lower than desired covers meant an early drench for lambs but overall livestock were looking good and the group commented on how the pastures have improved since previous visits.  Also being trialled was a batt latch for sheep which was working well and had also caused a couple of surprising observations about grazing management. 

2^nd November 2021, Southern Curiosity Club, Clarks Junction, Otago

The theme for today was large mob grazing (greater than 10,000 su), how to make it work and whether there were any pitfalls.  The property we visited only did it in the winter months and the main reasons where to better prepare pastures for spring, even fertility across paddocks, and significantly reduce labour and cost of wintering.  A water system that could keep up with demand was essential, as was good fencing, both of which were being replaced.  Conversations earlier in the day highlight hay better for winter hogget performance than balage, using large mobs to stimulate pasture responses worked well, and annual crops can easily last an additional six months for grazing, especially if pasture base has little bare earth.

12^th October 2021 Hawkes Bay Curiosity Club, Norsewood. Hawkes Bay

The group was challenged today to join a research opportunity into grazing management and see what impact a change would have on long term grazing trials at Ballentrae research station.  Apparently Ballentrae production is down some 10-15% from 30 years ago so they are looking curious about alternative ideas capturing the passion of livestock farmers.  We then visited a property that holds huge potential in helping farmers see what is possible with soil and grazing techniques.  The group touched on a lot of grazing management and soil fertility ideas.  The point of all these techniques and practices is to help farmers realise there is no one answer, and while one idea might get you started there is no guarantee it will solve your problems.  The story we heard today was one of building the soil up first before introducing biology because the other way round didn’t work for this property.  It’s taken 20 years and you can be sure if the opportunity came again it would be done differently. 

3^rd August 2021, Central Curiosity Club, Patearoa, Otago

The group heard from Thomas Bird from Catalyst Performance Agronomy speak on technologies for monitoring soil moisture and nutrients, both computer software and soil probes.  Thomas also shared some ideas about ideal plants for pastures in Central Otago.  The property we visited is in the process being returned to the family after a 20 year lease.  They’ve been experimenting with regen cover crops for livestock feed and been happy with results and now looking for cheaper options.  Exploring the use of solar to run irrigation, fertigation using both natural and synthetic products, and building a beehive business.  Staggering the return of leased land has been useful to grow into the business by providing lease income to have cashflow.  Lifting soil moisture infiltration will continue to be a focus as the business grows.  The wide range of enterprises planned for this property are testimony to the energy being invested into this family’s future. 

29^th July 2021, Aorangi Curiosity Club, Waimate, Canterbury

The group visited a couple of properties exploring winter grazing practices.  The first property was where the farmer admitted he should have tightened up his grazing earlier in the dry autumn but the uncertainty of working with autumn born calves (then 12 months old) caused him not to listen to others.  As a result he was now feeding out which reduces profitability of these livestock.  The second property was moving to multi-species winter crops as part of permanent pasture mixes.  It was the first time the first 130 calved cows hadn’t required one antibiotic but cow liveweight appears lower.  The situation raised a couple of interesting questions: Can you speed up what you want plants to do – in this case deal with compaction, by simply ripping?  Another question associated with all the different breeds on the property (10) was whether downsizing the milking herd and raising and grazing own calves was an option? 

29^th June Canterbury Curiosity Club, Rangiora, Canterbury

Another group getting off the ground on one of the coldest days this year.  We visited a local farmer who specialty is trees, mainly eucalypts.  The group drew on forty years of experience about what trees suited this part of Canterbury as the property had over 700 species at one stage.  He had also been determining which species deer found palatable.  He was also trialling shelterbelt trees that were slow growing but wouldn’t need side trimming in years to come.  Not trees are the same, those best for stopping hills sliding are not ideal for preventing river erosion.  

15^th June Aorangi Curiosity club, Pleasant Point, Canterbury

Another group reforming after RMPP with a focus primarily on grazing, but also soil health and measuring performance of business.  The property we looked at was trailing several things including sainfoin pasture mixes, mixing biological brews with common fertiliser as humate products appear to give the best results.  Was even considering putting PKE in a brew because whenever its fed to livestock, their subsequent dung is covered in fungi.  The group also checked out a site planted in natives and other trees to check out what grows in the area.

June 10^th Hawkes Bay Curiosity Club, Waipukurau, Hawkes Bay

Another group reforming after RMPP with an emphasis on grazing, soil fertility, and financial performance.  The property we visited has been experimenting with different grazing techniques.  They were very happy with the results up to the dry when they destocked completely.  Upon reflection they felt keeping a mob over the dry spell would have helped developed greater confidence with the techniques.  What’s important here is the willingness to try something that’s big enough to see a difference but small enough it doesn’t make a difference at least to the bottom line.  Practicing techniques when the pressure is off creates a lot more confidence in such techniques when the pressure is on…

June 3^rd 2021, Waikato Curiosity club, Atiamuri, Waikato

Another meeting of farming people keen to learn about issues affecting their business and lifestyle.  Their focus will be diversity and carbon, plus grazing and livestock performance with a number of other ideas.  Today we visited a dairy property to check out their pastures and what their next plans were.  Their animal health is $20.00/hd verses regional average of $117.00/hd.  Grass grub one of the biggest problems as the property is still emerging from its time as a forestry block.  Next season they plan a 30 day round in spring, 45 days by November, then longer into summer.  Is willing to trial tail painting as a cheaper way to determine which cows are dry.  Also will plant any summer crop with perennial grasses and clovers. 

1^st June 2021, Northern Curiosity Club, Dargaville, Northland.

Another new group forming with participants from my two RMPP groups in Northland.  This group will focus on biodiversity, grazing management and profitability.  Today we visited a dairy property experimenting with multi-species mixes.  The multi-species mixes in cropping ground suffered compared to pastoral ground, the first being grazed only once since November, the other 6 times.  The seed mix cost over $500.00/ha so again another reason why farmers should be trialling on a small scale first.  The group will meet again in October to review grazing practices

27^th May 2021, Southern Curiosity Club, Matarua, Southland

Again another new group venture with reminder of RMPP groups and working toward getting B&LNZ funding.  This group's interests will focus on....  Today the group visited a smaller organic sheep and cropping operation.  There was plenty of feed so plenty of opportunity to take advantage to of changing stocking policy; have less breeding stock and more trading.  A grain mill on the property has potential although it needs more investment to optimise opportunities.   

25^th May 2021, Central Otago Curiosity Club, Cromwell, Otago

Today was part of a new venture involving farmer groups from RMPP combining to form curiosity clubs; groups of farmers interested in learning about ideas to give them confidence to do things at home.  My role is coordinating activities and networking.  Today we visited a property still working through challenges of regen farming and happy to show us what hasn’t worked.  What they have been successful at is changes in soil structure as evidenced by improving moisture infiltration rates but still have a long way to go.  Infiltration rates were so bad water would run off the terrace down to the woolshed near the main highway.  How many other properties experience this and do nothing?  At least they identified their compacted soils and decided to find ways to improve infiltration and retention.

31^st March 2021, Canterbury Foothills RMPP Action Group, Halswell, Canterbury

Stacking enterprises is something every farmer is interested in to optimise labour and capital investment.  However few realise that successfully stacking enterprises requires creating services for the business’s centrepiece by either utilising scrap resources from the centrepiece or reducing inputs.  It draws on the permacultural principle of multiplicity where any one action must draw from multiple sources and produce outcomes to multiple beneficiaries.  The group visited with the Beatties to check out their many enterprises which commercialise native or near native species and benefit from their adaptations.  

29 & 30^th March 2021, Regenerative Farmers Marlborough RMPP Action Group, Hawarden & Waiau, Canterbury

This postponed tour finally happened where the group visited three distinctly different and successful properties.  One property had been ravaged by earthquakes 5 years ago.  One of the most important statements here regarded the speed of recovery.  Within a month they had over $100,000.00 bill for repairs but after that decided to split the farm into four and focus on repairs from cash flow over the next four years thereby staying out of debt.  Another property focused on 80kg plus ewes to deliver big lambs for rapid weight gain and all the juggling of liveweight classes and supplements to make that happen.  The final property was looking to the landscape to create a business system that suited its limitations to keep investment minimal but ran the risk of possible succession options. 

Contact

Phone:

027 6737 885

Email:

john@succession.co.nz