Community-Led DairyNZ Tararua Plantain Project Transforms Environmental Sustainability in New Zealand
The DairyNZ-led Tararua Plantain Project, centered on community involvement, has been a transformative initiative. The project's primary goal was to enhance the health of local waterways by bringing together dairy farmers, community members, iwi, DairyNZ, and partners to reduce the environmental impact within the region.
David Burger, the sustainable dairy general manager at DairyNZ, underscores the project's mission to assist local dairy farmers in embracing plantain, a favored leafy herb for cows, in their pastures. This adoption of plantain has had a remarkable impact, reducing nitrogen leaching into waterways, and concurrently aiding in the mitigation of on-farm greenhouse gas emissions.
The success of the Tararua Project sets a precedent for farmers nationwide to incorporate plantain into their catchments, offering substantial benefits. Research conducted by Massey University as part of the DairyNZ Plantain Potency and Practice Programme showed that pastures with Ecotain plantain reduced nitrogen leaching by 20 to 60 percent compared to standard pastures with ryegrass and clover. This shift is expected to result in significant economic savings for farmers over the years.
The Tararua Project commenced in 2018 as a response to new regulations mandating that local farmers reduce nitrogen leaching by up to 60 percent. Building on insights fr om the DairyNZ Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching (FRNL) programme, the project has been instrumental in incorporating plantain across 101 dairy farms in the Tararua district. The participating farmers continuously monitor their streams to enhance water quality through on-farm practices, with their experiences shared to benefit other farmers.
In recognition of its achievements, the project received the 2023 Primary Industries New Zealand team and collaboration award. Furthermore, it played a pivotal role in inspiring the nationwide seven-year DairyNZ-led Plantain Potency and Practice Programme, wh ere stakeholders from the sector, government, and farming community collaborate to study the effects of plantain and encourage its adoption on farms.
Tararua dairy farmer Thomas Read, who is actively involved in the project, has experienced a 10 percent reduction in nitrogen loss on his farm since adopting plantain. He continues to increase the proportion of Ecotain plantain in his pastures, aiming for even more substantial results. Additionally, Thomas and his wife Jennifer have undertaken tree planting initiatives on their farm to protect wetlands, which play a vital role in enhancing water quality and supporting biodiversity.
DairyNZ, in partnership with Agricom, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Fonterra, and Nestlé, leads the Tararua project. The initiative collaborates with delivery partners including AgResearch, Horizons, and Massey University. The project is part of the broader commitments and on-farm efforts within the dairy sector to reduce its environmental footprint.
Key Highlights of the Tararua Plantain Project:
- 101 dairy farmers in the Tararua district have incorporated plantain on their farms.
- 11 partner farmers have case studies and monitor the effects of plantain on their farms.
- 24 project events conducted between 2021-2023 to disseminate project knowledge to farmers and the community.
- A total of 3,189 hectares planted with plantain in mixed pastures, along with 104 hectares of plantain crop.
- More than 560 monthly water quality monitoring samples collected by farmers across 21 sites.
The success of the Tararua Project sets a precedent for farmers nationwide to incorporate plantain into their catchments, offering substantial benefits. Research conducted by Massey University as part of the DairyNZ Plantain Potency and Practice Programme showed that pastures with Ecotain plantain reduced nitrogen leaching by 20 to 60 percent compared to standard pastures with ryegrass and clover. This shift is expected to result in significant economic savings for farmers over the years.
The Tararua Project commenced in 2018 as a response to new regulations mandating that local farmers reduce nitrogen leaching by up to 60 percent. Building on insights fr om the DairyNZ Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching (FRNL) programme, the project has been instrumental in incorporating plantain across 101 dairy farms in the Tararua district. The participating farmers continuously monitor their streams to enhance water quality through on-farm practices, with their experiences shared to benefit other farmers.
In recognition of its achievements, the project received the 2023 Primary Industries New Zealand team and collaboration award. Furthermore, it played a pivotal role in inspiring the nationwide seven-year DairyNZ-led Plantain Potency and Practice Programme, wh ere stakeholders from the sector, government, and farming community collaborate to study the effects of plantain and encourage its adoption on farms.
Tararua dairy farmer Thomas Read, who is actively involved in the project, has experienced a 10 percent reduction in nitrogen loss on his farm since adopting plantain. He continues to increase the proportion of Ecotain plantain in his pastures, aiming for even more substantial results. Additionally, Thomas and his wife Jennifer have undertaken tree planting initiatives on their farm to protect wetlands, which play a vital role in enhancing water quality and supporting biodiversity.
DairyNZ, in partnership with Agricom, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Fonterra, and Nestlé, leads the Tararua project. The initiative collaborates with delivery partners including AgResearch, Horizons, and Massey University. The project is part of the broader commitments and on-farm efforts within the dairy sector to reduce its environmental footprint.
Key Highlights of the Tararua Plantain Project:
- 101 dairy farmers in the Tararua district have incorporated plantain on their farms.
- 11 partner farmers have case studies and monitor the effects of plantain on their farms.
- 24 project events conducted between 2021-2023 to disseminate project knowledge to farmers and the community.
- A total of 3,189 hectares planted with plantain in mixed pastures, along with 104 hectares of plantain crop.
- More than 560 monthly water quality monitoring samples collected by farmers across 21 sites.
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