AgriSea New Zealand Limited general manager Tane Bradley says the company is excited to bring the seminars ‘Farming Profitably within Environmental Limits’ to Kiwi farmers.

“Along with her international experience, Dr Christine Jones is also well aware of NZ soil conditions, has conducted research on NZ farms and understands our environmental constraints.”

Her practical, well-researched workshops will show farmers how they can farm profitably within environmental limits.

Christine says the use of inorganic nitrogen in agriculture is recognised as a highly inefficient and polluting practice. “Statistics New Zealand shows NZ imported 650,000 tonnes of urea in 2015-2016 at a cost of $281 million.

High economic cost

“Volatilisation and leaching losses of 60-90 per cent would equate to annual wastage somewhere between $168 million to $252 million, representing a high economic cost to farmers.”

Christine says weaning off inorganic nitrogen wouldn’t entirely solve the problem – urine is an issue and the high crude protein content of ryegrass contributes to this.

“New Zealand milk urea nitrogen levels are among the highest, if not the highest in world, and could be the underlying cause of unacceptably high empty rates in dairy cows; particularly in the Waikato.

“Research shows feeding mixed pastures like chicory and plantain results in a 20 per cent reduction in urinary N with no reduction and often an increase in milk yield and some research shows a 50 per cent reduction in urinary N simply by grazing a mixed sward.”

Three principles

Her workshops will expand on her three principles for farming profitably within environmental limits; support the innate capacity of soil microbial communities to fix atmospheric nitrogen biologically; improve the capacity of the soil to act as an effective bio-filter; and incorporate as much pasture diversity as possible to reduce the excretion of urinary N by livestock with the potential to reduce or eliminate the need for inorganic fertiliser.

Christine has helped farmers around the world transition from high input systems and her life work has been supporting farmers worldwide and showing them how they can maximise the use of their land while remaining sustainable both environmentally and economically.

Christine will be conducting four workshops in the Waikato along with attending numerous meetings with dairy producers, regional councils, policy makers and movers and shakers.

Workshop dates and venues are: AgriSea Paeroa May 23 from 9am-4pm; Ohaupo Rugby Club May 25 from 9am-4pm; Reporoa Rugby Club May 26 from 9am-4pm; Piopio Hall May 30 from 9am-4pm.

The ticket sales are on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.nz or directly through AgriSea on 0800 SEAWEED and cost $50 per person or $80 per double pass.