78 | nzdairy Looking beyond the lab with plantain Richard Loader Fifth generation Tararura farmer Murray Holdaway is one of several farmers in the region hosting a DairyNZ project designed to test the benefits of plantain in local pastures. Now in its fourth year, the Plantain Rollout Project was established in response to the Horizon Regional Council’s One Plan, which required farmers in the region to reduce nitrogen leaching by an average of 60%, in order to gain consent. “Because of high rainfall and the free draining soils in the Tararua, there were around 120 farmers who simply could not meet those targets,” says Murray. “Horizon initially targeted the worst catchments in the Tararura, but once the initial catchments were under control, the plan was to expand into other catchments. “There had been some work done in Taranaki on alternative pasture species which showed plantain had a lower protein percentage in it, with potential to significantly reduce nitrate leaching, and that’s why the trial was set up in the Tararua.” The project has been funded and led by DairyNZ and MPI. Horizon Regional Council is also working to assist farmers to find solutions in respect to on-farm nitrogen leaching, with Ian McNab, Horizon’s Rural Advisor, taking a seat on the project’s Governance team. Murray says and an interesting aspect of the project is that Nestlé had also invested $130,000 into the project. “Nestlé had been looking around the world for little community driven projects that had a focus on sustainability and environmental outcomes. They saw our plantain project and decided that was something that they wanted to put money into.” Murray’s participation in the project came about because of his involvement with other projects, to better understand the implications of One Plan and what Tararua farmers could do about it. Tararua farmer Murray Holdaway is one of several farmers in the region hosting a DairyNZ project designed to test the bene ts of plantain in local pastures. DAIRY PEOPLE » Murray Holdaway “I was also part of a dairy leaders group set up by Fonterra and DairyNZ, and I had already been using a bit of plantain on my farm, so all three things fitted in with me being involved. This project was to look beyond the lab, and see how it fits into a particular farming system.” Murray says there is scientific evidence that plantain reduces leaching compared to a rye grass on pasture. “Massey University and Lincoln have ongoing plantain trials that specifically measure its nitrate leaching capability, but the Plantain Rollout Project is more about how to get plantain to persist in the pasture so that it becomes a significant part of the cows’ diet. We know if plantain is 30% of the cows’ diet for example, we can work out what impact that has on reducing nitrate leaching. “But one of the problems with plantain is keeping it persisting in the pasture over time. We put plantain in our pasture mixes after growing a crop of turnips, for example, and get somewhere between 20 – 30% of plantain in the pasture. “But over the years that reduces quite significantly, to maybe only 5%. So, part of the project is to investigate what is leading to that lack of persistency and what can we do about it. Also, how can we get a greater percentage of plantain in the total cows’ diet.” As part of the trial on Murray’s farm, a comparison was made between strips of ryegrass only, and a ryegrass/plantain mix, on a couple of paddocks. “Dairy NZ measured the growth rates and dry-matter percent. They measured everything to give farmers the assurance that we are growing just as much feed and that the seasonal distribution of that feed is probably better than ryegrass with no down side in terms of milk production. “It has been a real delight to be involved in the programme because it has been a good mixture of science and practical farmers sitting down and talking about the issues and finding solution.” t 06 357 0640 www.nla.net.nz We focus on providing business advice and accounting solutions, so our clients can focus on what they do best! Let’s start talking • Silage • Hay • Maize • Direct Drilling • Balage • General Cartage • Cultivation Proud to support Murray and Lynda Holdaway Specialising in livestock cartage & general freight transport in the lower North Island region 61 Short Road, Pahiatua, New Zealand, 4982 brandfmurdoch@xtra.co.nz PH. 06 376 7181 MOB. 0274 778036
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