NZ Dairy Autumn 2021

| 57 nz dairy DAIRY PEOPLE » John Stevenson Farming Water security biggest challenge Photos: The Stevenson farm at Kokatu near Carterton is prone to flooding and a large rainfall event can see 30% of the farm covered in water. Rory (4), Stan (2) and Hazel Stevenson (7) with the summer turnip crop. Karen Phelps W ater security will be one of the biggest challenges that farmers will face regarding climate change. And Wairarapa farmer John Stevenson is already thinking about how he can future proof his family farms. “We have a heap of challenges ahead of us as farmers and our ability to respond will largely depend on getting water and utilising it well, how efficient our cows are and how much pasture we can grow on farm. Our aim is to be a really resilient business.” John is a fifth generation Wairarapa dairy farmer with a Bachelor of Commerce in Management. He worked at Police National Headquarters within the employment and industrial relations fields for a number of years before returning home to the fam- ily farm in 2011. John and wife Lisa are now contract milkers on two farms – one owned by a family trust and the other by his parents Richard and Carolyn. They milk 1000 cows on 350ha effective at Kokotau, east of Carterton, and 500 cows on 200ha effective at Rangitumau, north of Masterton. The farms tend to get extremely wet in winter and are prone to flooding. In summer It’s the op- posite story with dry conditions a key challenge. This has led them to invest heavily in irrigation and around 75% of their Carterton farm is covered and around 50% of the Masterton unit. The latest investment has been a fixed grid system on the Carterton farm comprising 180 poles across 25ha. The units have solar panels, which all ‘speak’to each other through radio signals, and four will be activated at any one time. The system was partly chosen as the Ruamahanga River flows around the edges of about 60% of the property and this particular section of the farm tends to be flood prone. The farm experiences on average three or four flooding events each year and a large event can see 30% of the farm covered in water. The grid system means that the irrigation equipment will be less likely to experience damage. The system is also very efficient in applying water, enabling water to go further during the dryer months. Water for the farms is sourced primarily from aquifers and John is expecting water take to be severely restricted over coming years due to climate change and increased restrictions. He is a director of an innovative venture, Wairarapa Water Limited (WWL), a not-for-profit company. WWL evolved out of an agreed transition from the Greater Wellington Regional Council investiga- tion phase of water storage options in the Wairarapa to being led locally by a limited liability company set up to implement the project with backing by central and regional government. John says that Wairarapa Water’s aim is to develop infrastructure-based climate change solu- tions that build and deliver a resilient and vibrant future for the Wairarapa. It is currently working on the Wakamoekau Community Water Storage Scheme, which involves construction of a reservoir in the hills north west of Masterton. The reservoir will be filled with water from the nearby Waingawa River and Wakamoekau Creek only during periods of higher flow. Stored water will be available for use during the summer when it is needed mostprovid- ing for rivers, towns, industry, land-use change and rural supply. “We are getting less water in the Wairarapa in the summer but flood at other times of the year. There’s no shortage of water – it’s just about how to capture it to service the needs of the growing popu- lation. Water storage is one of a number of solutions that will help with this.” John is not only looking at water security – he is also seeking ways to utilise water better on his farms through deeper rooting species and improve environmental performance. This has involved carefully selecting rye grass species, and trialing Ecotain. Ecotain aims to significantly reduce N leaching from the urine patch by increasing the volume of urine animals produce. This means the N being ex- creted is in a more dilute form, reducing the amount of dietary N, which is excreted in urine compared with ryegrass, and delaying the conversion from ammonium to nitrate. The presence of Ecotain plants in the soil also aims to reduce nitrification, likely through the effect of a biological nitrification inhibitor. Planting summer turnips and maize gives him greater feed security and reduces the reliance on imported inputs. The dairy sheds on both farms have an in- shed feeding system. The other key part of the equation to future proof is ensuring animals are converting feed as ef- ficiently as possible. The farms have predominantly Friesian cows with a little Ayrshire thrown in the mix. The Ayrshire component is largely due to the fact his grandfather Bernie Patrick was a passionate Ayrshire breeder (some of his herd’s progeny even ended up in the herd of Queen Elizabeth II). “But we’re also fond of the traits they bring – udder performance and foraging capability,” says John. John is also the representative for the Wairarapa on the Fonterra Cooperative Council and says he remains proud to be a dairy farmer with a real stake in his future. “Every time I see a fleet of Fonterra tankers drive past I tell my kids that us farmers own those. Ownership of our co-operative is something every Fonterra farmer should be proud of.” Proud to be associated with John Stevenson Farming For all your livestock cartage needs IRRIGATION & FILTRATION • PUMPS & RETICULATION EFFLUENT MANAGEMENT • MILKING MACHINERY MILKING & FARM DAIRY EFFLUENT SPECIALISTS MASTERTON 219 High Street 0800 ORDISH (0800 673474) Our People, Your Solution PH: 06 379 8146 · office@scottagcontracting.co.nz 70 Woodlands Road, RD2, Carterton 5792 · scottsag.co.nz Maize, cereal and grass silage • Silage bagging • Baleage • Hay • Fetiliser spreading • Cultivation Earthmoving • Cartage • Maize planting • Fodderbeet planting & harvesting • Drilling • Combine harvesting Give the team a call today Agricultural Contracting Wairarapa Wide