New Zealand has 5.4 million hectares of hill country producing $500-$1000 a hectare to sustain hundreds of rural communities.
Constant change is resulting as farmers are under increasing demand from environmental and animal welfare regulations and consumers.
“I see some of the smaller incremental changes of the past much bigger now but so are the opportunities,” Green said.
“We have got to do it well or we will be spat out.
“We have got to understand the vision before we can work on the pathway.
“The opportunities will come back to those that are brave and prepared to tackle big change.”
Leading the panel discussion, Ecologic executive director Guy Salmon said farmers and consumers need to be more connected.
“Not connected by the internet but in tangible relationships.
And farmers need to be more innovative.
“Now, with farming within limits, the only way to grow business is to be more innovative in terms of improving revenues on farm, outcomes environmentally and accountability to the public.
“Environmental impact has long versed financial performance.
“There’s a sense of farmers not being accountable – agreeing to goals but not delivering on the goals.”
Salmon suggested a more collective approach in the hill country might be appropriate.
“That would be a very huge step in delivering confidence on what is agreed to deliver.”
North Canterbury farm manager John Fitzgerald said he feels privileged to manage a 2100ha sheep and beef hill country property that incorporates 400ha of protected native bush used for honey production.
“I think we farm as well as possible but also know we could do better.”
Between now and 2040 NZ’s population will have reached 5.5 million people, 90% will live in an urban area and 25% will be over 65.
“So it’s 2040, Australia still hasn’t reclaimed the Bledisloe Cup, Winston Peters is on his second and final term as president of the Republic of NZ and, believe it or not, the hills are still there and you’re still farming them, albeit it a bit differently.”
The breeding stock once pushed into the hills by intensive dairy farming were now dribbling back down, squeezed by forestry and carbon farming.
Previous generations talked of wool paying the wages and the fertiliser bill but carbon farming is now doing that.
To withstand compliance costs and the demands of a growing and ageing population farming business have unified to provide the scope, scale and diversity needed for protection from adverse events and for the ability to take branded products as far down the value chain as possible.
Science has continued to improve and match genetics, plant with animal, and technology is far too smart for a phone.
GPS technology, once large and cumbersome, is now compact and is in every farmed animal.
“It’s with this you have recognised your greatest opportunities,” Fitzgerald said.
“The opportunity to prove that your environmental practices are top notch, that the virtual fences that now exist keep your livestock out of the sensitive areas, that your fertiliser and chemical placement is exact.
“We will have realised that every product we sell must be niche. The days of commodities are gone.”
And it will be recognised bold and bright young people with vision and imagination will be needed to take the evolved farming businesses forward from 2040 to 2060.
Science impact leader Robyn Dynes sees an exciting future for farmers and scientists working together.
“I see some real upsides in multi-functional landscapes with science playing a big part, as will technology.
“You must not underestimate the power that data will have in your farming in 2040.”
Banks Peninsula farmer Chris Chamberlain said hill country farmers need to urgently rebrand themselves.
“We are food producers, not sheep and beef or meat and fibre.
“We need to tell our story from the grassroots level to connect with our consumers. The way we are now is not sustainable.
“Let’s get a value out of being good custodians of naturally produced foods grown by the world’s most trusted farmers.”
Hill country farmers need to collaborate more with the rest of farming.
“Arable farmers put green crops in to finish our game. Let’s work better together in the things we can’t individually achieve.
“We’ve got to change to be a robust model and it’s us, hill country farmers that have to manage this,” Chamberlain said.
