The Ropers, who farm at Alton, also love trees that not only enhance the environment but help them meet their climate change obligations by offsetting their greenhouse gas emissions.
“We’re a little of mind to think further out to say 30 years and think ‘what will our grandchildren want to see’,” Damian said.
They recently established a 2ha wetland and bush area and are seeking QEII protection for an historic 3ha block of recovering storm-damaged bush.
The family this winter planted 0.5ha of silver beech and next winter hope to plant 0.5ha of northern rata and 1ha of totara.
“Really, it’s there for aesthetic reasons, climate change and improving water quality.”
Longer term there are plans to re-establish woodlots of maire, a species once prolific in wetlands.
Roper said minor tweaks to managing his property had reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Regular soil testing means he has not had to apply phosphate in 10 years while increasing the area over which effluent is spread to a third of the farm has halved the use of nitrogen in four years.
Cow numbers have progressively been cut from 500 to 440 and the fruits of a long-term genetics programme and better feeding, including growing 25ha of summer chicory, have seen milk production increase by 50,000kg MS a year.
“We milk a few less and have them produce more instead of cramming up the stocking rate and doing it tight.”
At 2.8 stock units a hectare Roper is producing between 1600 and 1700kg MS a hectare and that includes growing 10ha of maize.
Crops are sown using minimum tillage methods to preserve the soil structure.
