| 57 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Wilith Farm Link between soil, people and long-term resilience Miah Smith, Jenny Smith, Christine Jones and Clare Bradley. Karen Phelps Wilith Farm’s involvement in Rere ki uta, rere ki tai kaupapa has reshaped not only how the land is farmed but how its owners think about the relationship between soil, people and long-term resilience. Four years into the project, dairy farmer Miah Smith says the partnership has reinforced that productive farming and cultural values can move forward together. “Together we’re working to restore the mana and mauri of the soil through science, culture and community,” says Miah Smith. The project, originally established within AgriSea and supported by the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge, has since grown into the Rere ki uta, rere ki tai Incorporated Society, which is grounded in the wisdom of Waikato-Tainui tangata whenua and the experience of intergenerational farmers from Waikato and Taupo. The kaupapa brings together farmers, scientists from Manaaki Whenua Landcare, AgResearch and Lincoln University, along with rural advisors, technical staff from AgriSea, rural social scientists, market researchers, farm financial advisors, local school kaiako and storytellers. Wilith Farm, located 22km south of Rotorua, has been part of the kaupapa from the early stages. Miah and his wife Jenny farm a 260ha effective Atiamuri forestry conversion, where challenging soil conditions initially pushed them to look beyond conventional systems. “Understanding how soil actually works has been a game changer,” says Miah. “The kaupapa gives farmers the confidence to question what they’ve always been told and to try something different.” A major focus of the work has been soil testing and visual soil assessments, using tools developed through Manaaki Whenua. “The Visual Soil Assessment is simple but powerful,” explains Miah. “You don’t need special training and it gives you a really clear picture of where your soil is at and how it’s changing over time.” At Wilith Farm, soil and herbage tests guide decision-making, with AgriSea soil and pasture products applied based on what the land actually needs. Summer crops have been planted and multi-species pastures are now standard, particularly on the more challenging hill country. “The steeper hills with shallower soil are still the biggest challenge,” says Miah. “We’ve planted deeper rooted species like cocksfoot, red clover, prairie grass, chicory and plantain to get roots down deeper and build soil. The deeper the roots go, the further the sugars get into the soil.” Tree planting has been another major project this year. Around 750 trees have been planted for shade, shelter and fodder, including poplars alongside natives and feijoas along fencelines. “Once the poplars are established they provide shade so the smaller trees can grow,” says Miah. An additional 4ha of steep, erosion-prone land has been planted in poplars at nine-metre spacings and will be entered into the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), while still being grazed underneath. Existing pine blocks on the farm have also been registered in the ETS. “They weren’t worth milling so this made more sense for us,” says Miah. The outcomes are being seen in both environmental and production results. Wilith Farm milks 520 cows and has been once-a-day for five seasons. “It suited the steep farm, our family life and keeping costs down,” says Miah. Mating performance has improved significantly, with a 93 percent submission rate in the first three weeks and no intervention. “We don’t use CIDRs or pre-mating heats anymore and empty rates sit between four and eight percent,” says Miah. As the kaupapa matures, much of the information generated has been shared with MPI, while practical resources continue to be added for farmers. “Rere ki uta, rere ki tai has shown that when you bring culture, science and farming together,” says Miah, “you get better outcomes for the land and the people on it.” TRACTOR PARTS DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR HIGH QUALITY NEW AND USED PARTS FOR MOST TRACTOR MAKES & MODELS Delivered to your farm within 2-3 days NEW TRACTOR PARTS www.agspares.co.nz • 09 437 9036 REFURBISHED TRACTORS Case, JD, NH and more TRACTOR DISMANTLING All The Common Brands
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