26 | Keen to make more of a ‘tangible difference’ Hawkes Bay Future Farming Trust has been undertaking projects based around soil carbon. Russell Fredric RURAL PEOPLE » Andrew Russell After 30 years active involvement with Federated Farmers Hawkes Bay including a long tenure as its forestry representative, Andrew Russell has set his sights on a different paddock. A year ago he became a trustee for Hawkes Bay Future Farming Trust, an organisation aiming to create a local hub of knowledge, research, education and opportunity for profitable and resilient farming to ensure the health of the region’s soil and water, communities and farmers into the future. “I just felt that working more locally, I could make more of a tangible difference rather than being in a national body,” Andrew says. He and his wife Pip (Philippa) own a 1000 hectare generational farm in Sherenden, about 40 kilometres northwest of Napier. Previously a traditional breeding and finishing business, the farm is a sheep and beef trading unit on medium to rolling country with 100 hectares in pine trees for plantation forestry and carbon credits, as well as abundant amenity plantings. Andrew’s role in Hawkes Bay Future Farming Trust’s mission relates well to his experience and interest in the importance and sustainability of soils as the engine room of pastoral farming, as well as horticultural and viticultural operations. Since changing to a more cattle-focused system on their farm, Andrew has noticed greater biodiversity in the grass species with better persistence in chicory, plantain and clover which is much more abundant. “I think we are growing more grass. The basic premise is we’ve gone from being short-grass farmers, which you basically are with sheep, to long-grass farmers.” During the past four years Hawkes Bay Future Farming Trust has been undertaking projects based around soil carbon, plus a holistic economic and environmental assessment of dairy and sheep / beef exemplar farms in Hawkes Bay. The Carbon Positive Project, which started in autumn 2022 in collaboration with LandWISE, is a six-year project centred around comparing conventional versus alternative / regenerative farming systems applicable to Hawke’s Bay’s field cropping, with special focus on soil carbon, input use, nutrient loss, irrigation and water retention. Another, the Soil Carbon Measurement Project, started five years ago and is designed to measure with scientific rigour the ability of farm practices to increase soil carbon. The latter involves measuring soil carbon across three farms at various stages of organic / regenerative development that were formerly high chemical input dairy operations. Findings to date, which indicate that regeneratively managed pastures can build up carbon and retain more nitrogen has positive “I think we are growing more grass. The basic premise is we’ve gone from being short-grass farmers, which you basically are with sheep, to long-grass farmers.” HAWKES BAY FENCING LTD For all your fencing requirements Conventional • Electric Temporary Fencing Hire Deer Fencing • Security RetainingWalls • Tennis Courts Earthmoving • Bulldozing Call Gordon 027 450 5230 www.hawkesbayfencing.co.nz When it comes to Motorcycles Hastings Honda is your first stop in Hawkes Bay for Farm Quads, Side by Side's, 2 Wheeler's, Road Bikes, Motocross Bikes, Scooters & Commuters. +64 6 878 7004 | hawkesbay@bakertillysr.nz www.bakertillysr.nz We are proud to be long standing accounting and tax advisors to Andrew Russell and his successful farming business. AUDIT • BUSINESS ADVISORY • CORPORATE ADVISORY • HUMAN RESOURCES • TAX
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