Over two days in May, arguably the best range of speakers on this topic ever brought together in NZ, will gather in the Waikato to share their observations and latest findings at a one-off Resilient Pastures Symposium (RPS)
Organising committee chair David Chapman says it’s no coincidence that the presenters align so closely with what he describes as commonly-voiced suggestions about the future of NZ grassland farming.
“For farming everywhere south of Auckland, look at what people are doing in Northland. That’s what much of the North Island will be like in the future, so that’s where the answers lie,” Chapman said.
“For farming in Northland, look at Australia. That’s what Northland will be like in the future, so that’s where the answers lie.”
“It’s all about the soil and/or the farm system. That’s where the answers lie.”
Chapman, who is a principal scientist at DairyNZ, says speakers were not invited to the RPS solely on the basis of these themes, but there’s a notable overlap.
Included in the programme, for example, are presentations from two Northland farmers who are “passionate pasture people” – Allister McCahon and Murray Jagger will share their experiences and thoughts about where to next for Northland pastures.
There are also two climate change and agronomy/systems experts from Australia, Professor Yani Garcia from the University of Sydney and Dr Brendan Cullen from the University of Melbourne, drawing parallels between Australia and NZ.
Covering trends and prospects on this side of the Tasman, in the meantime, are NZ environment and climate change researchers GNS Science’s Liz Keller, Ministry for Primary Industries’ Gerald Rhys, MPI and AgResearch’s Cecile de Klien and Sarah Mansfield.
NZ soils experts Louis Schipper from the University of Waikato and David Houlbrooke and Mark Shepherd from AgResearch will talk about management of soil fertility, soil structure and soil carbon for pasture resilience, alongside soils practitioners Warwick Catto of Ballance Agri-nutrients and Ants Roberts of Ravensdown.
Agronomy and farm systems researchers Danny Donaghy of Massey University, Derek Moot of Lincoln University and David Stevens of AgResearch will dissect systems options, as will pasture-focused farmers like Corrigan Sowman from Golden Bay, and consultants like Jeremy Savage of Macfarlane Rural Business, Chris Lewis of BakerAg and Phil Journeaux of AgFirst.
The symposium will wrap up with a workshop session to distil what farmers, industry leaders and scientists identify as critical directions for future pasture research and development.
NZ Grassland Association president and AgResearch senior scientist Warren King notes that this collaborative group approach to tackling pasture persistence at the end of the NZGA’s 2011 symposium led to significant new pasture R&D and industry-led initiatives, including the influential DairyNZ Forage Value Index.
“Clear directions are sought from the RPS because the urgency for answers is increasing as the effects of climate change and environmental regulations intensify,” King said.
The RPS is being held by the NZ Grassland Association. Register online at www.grassland.org.nz before April 16 for the early-bird registration fee.
