Angus Kebbell talks with Aslan Wright-Stow from Dairy NZ to discuss Dairy NZ’s role in the He Waka Eke Noa Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership and the development of the farm plan guidance

By Angus Kebbell

Today we are talking with Aslan Wright-Stow from Dairy NZ about Dairy NZ’s role in the He Waka Eke Noa Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership and the importance of farm plans.

Farm planning is a key tool to manage the different parts of each farm business, and the basis of providing assurance of good practice to consumers and other interested parties.

Many farmers and growers already have some form of farm plan, often as part of Industry Assurance Programmes (such as Fonterra’s Tiaki programme, the red meat sector’s NZ Farm Assurance Programme or Horticulture’s GAP assurance programmes). Now there is a need to incorporate a greenhouse gas module into farm planning. It must integrate with existing programmes and become part of an integrated farm plan. It is likely that existing programmes will provide additional information drawing on this guidance.

Developing a greenhouse gas module in their farm plan, will help farmers and growers build:

- a clear understanding of their farm greenhouse gas emissions, and

- the knowledge to make informed decisions on actions to reduce emissions appropriate to their farm business, while considering effects on other aspects of the farm business.

The farm plan approach recognises the individual nature of each farm and that choices about how to reduce farm emissions are for each farmer and grower to make. Similarly, a collective approach to farm planning by Māori as kaitiaki is being developed by the Te Aukaha workstream.

By 2025 there is expected to be an emissions pricing mechanism, which will further inform individual farmer and grower decisions about the costs and benefits of actions to reduce emissions.

Listen to Aslan Wright-Stow here:

Some of the changes farmers are being asked to undertake in order to meet emission targets are significant and this needs to be recognised. But it can't be recognised if it is not recorded and tracked. Farmers input and buy-in is fundamental to ensure realistic changes and goals can be achieved.

“Farmers input has been from a users perspective rather than technical input. The testing also emphasised the need for practical on the ground options, that came through really strongly,” said Wright-Stow. “There was some other pretty key feedback I thought in terms of emphasising the need to recognise the importance of New Zealand’s international brand, and the value of our products in those international markets on those being off the back of New Zealand’s environmental credentials.”

The Farm plan guidance is for farmers and growers to help them measure, manage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It has been developed collaboratively by the primary sector, Federation of Māori Authorities, Government, and scientists from New Zealand universities and Crown Research institutes through the He Waka Eke Noa partnership. The intention is to help farmers, growers and their advisors incorporate the management of greenhouse gases into farm planning, by understanding their emissions profile and what contributes to it, exploring opportunities to reduce it, and keeping good farm records.

Although many farmers and growers will find this process more challenging than others, this is an industry-led approach that recognises the importance of a sustainable business. Farmers need to be part of the solution rather than having it dictated to them. As the backbone of New Zealand’s economy, it is absolutely critical your voice is herd and your views are part of legislation changes moving forward. And that is all being built on integrated farm plans.

To get the full story listen to the podcast above.

Angus Kebbell is the Producer at Tailwind Media. You can contact him here.