46 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Alan Law Touring Missouri Ag leaders benefit Alan says a key reason for commencing the biological journey was to step off the synthetic nitrogen treadmill. Eastern Bay of Plenty Dairy farmer Alan Law recently had the honour of presenting to members of touring Missouri organisation ALOT — Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow — about his journey from conventional farming to biological farming over the last three years. The seminar was held in Palmerston North and was organised by Kiwi Fertiliser, in combination with ALOT and Perry Agricultural Laboratory (PAL). The A LOT’s mission is to provide advanced leadership experiences that will make a positive impact to the future of agriculture and agribusiness in Missouri and beyond. The Executive Director of ALOT is Kristin Perry, who along with her husband Bob started PAL in 1982, where soil samples from the Wyndlea & Oriini dairy farms are sent for analysis. “ALOT members are made up of a diverse cross section of vocations including agricultural lawyers; grain, beef and dairy farmers; people from Pioneer Seeds; and they travel the world looking at agriculture agri-businesses,” says Alan. “We have worked with Kiwi Fertiliser throughout our biological journey, and they invited me to present to about twenty ALOT members on a study tour. There were also about twenty-five other Kiwi Fertiliser clients attending the seminar, so it was a great opportunity for us to tell our story.” Alan says a key reason for commencing the biological journey was to step off the synthetic nitrogen treadmill, because of nitrates contribution to water pollution. He says since the commencement of the journey Wyndlea farm has changed quite significantly and quite quickly. “Historically we have focused on grass, cows, and production. Now we think a lot more about our soils. We go out with a spade and see what is happening with the roots. Richard Loader Ron McLean: Managing Director | Kiwi Fertiliser Our mission is to respect biological life in all areas of the farm M: +64 27 289 4258 | T: 0800 549 433 | E: ronmac@kiwifertiliser.co.nz | www.kiwifertiliser.co.nz Stainless steel – fabrication and welding Design Supply Install Steve King 027 4095 0054 Will King 027 615 7922 Robbie Hall 027 807 1312 * Ef uent & irrigation * Feed systems * Frost protection * Animal health * Detergent * Rubberware & Consumable * Trenching service c1107kwKing Milking & water systems specialists since 1988 Main Street, Edgecumbe Ph 07 304 9640 anytime FARMit Accountants are proud to support Alan and Wendy Law (07) 307 7245 team@farmit.net.nz www.farmit.net.nz GOLD PARTNER Company Restructures Succession Planning Financial Accounts Tax Planning Equity Partnerships Budgeting and Forecas�ng We have ryegrass roots over a metre deep now.” While Alan’s well-constructed Powerpoint presentation covered a lot of ground, there were several key points he felt were most significant. While Kiwi farmers have a reputation for being innovators and early adopters of new technologies and are seen as world leaders in farm efficiency and production, Alan says it is imperative that the momentum to improve the environmental impact is maintained. “Another key point is that as part of our biological journey we’re still applying solid fertiliser. We keep our nutrient tank full, and we do annual soil tests. Before we commenced our biological journey Kiwi Fertiliser ensured that the cations in our soils were balanced. One of the reasons that we were not keen on adopting total regenerative agriculture was its view that fertiliser was unnecessary. We’re now hearing stories of farms that have been run down nutrient wise. There are elements of regenerative farming that are very good, but not all of it, in my view.” Alan acknowledges that there is a transition period when transforming from conventional farming, using high nitrogen and acidic fertilisers, and that transitional period is imperative. “We all have to pay our mortgages and maintain both profit and productivity. Kiwi Fertiliser offered an eight-step plan to bridge that transitional period. Another key thing is that we’ve grown our clover content in pastures from 15% when we first started, up to about 70% now. So, you have all that clover making nitrogen available to the rest of the plants.” Alan and his wife Wendy farm 340 hectares, comprised of two separate dairy units, about 5 kilometres apart and two support blocks, milking just under 700 cows across the two farms. “I’ve never done anything else,’ says Alan. “I joined Young Farmers when I left school and always been part of Federated Farmers both locally and at National level, learning all the time, and meeting people. I love farming and livestock, and looking after our soils and growing grass.” While Alan and Wendy continue to be active on their farms on a daily basis, their two sons are now contract milking on each of the two dairy units, maintaining the momentum of intergenerational farming.
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