| 17 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Groves Dairies MHV Water chair Cole Groves: MHV Water has served the region since 1947, delivering irrigation water across more than 58,000 hectares of farmland. Karen Phelps Reliable, cost-effective water is the foundation of sound farming decisions and for Mid-Canterbury irrigation scheme MHV Water securing that reliability well into the future has become a focus. “Farmers make better economic and environmental decisions when they have reliable, cost-effective water,” says Cole Groves, chair of MHV Water. “It gives farmers more options regarding their land and their farming businesses.” MHV Water has served the region since 1947, delivering irrigation water across more than 58,000 hectares of farmland between the Ashburton and Rangitata rivers. Operated as a farmer cooperative, it draws its supply from the Rangitata Diversion Race (RDR), which is fed by both the Ashburton and Rangitata rivers, and distributes water to shareholders through roughly 320 kilometres of open race and 100 kilometres of piped infrastructure. Now a significant change to minimum flow rules on the Ashburton River due to take effect in 2032 is set to substantially reduce how much water can be drawn into the RDR. That has prompted MHV Water and its fellow RDR shareholder, Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation, to act. The joint venture, operating under the name Mid Canterbury Water Storage, has purchased land and existing consents at the top of the diversion race, originally secured by the RDR for a 53-million-litre storage pond. “The consents conditions though are onerous and we don’t need 53 million litres of cubic storage right now,” says Cole. “We want to stage the build to maintain reliability for our farmers and shareholders as the need arises.” Cole farms a 430-cow dairy operation irrigated by MHV Water, with 108 effective hectares six kilometres from the scheme. He is now in his third year as chair and brings a farmer’s perspective to the table. Under Plan Change 2 of the Land and Water Regional Plan, the Hinds Plains area faces a 35 per cent reduction in nitrate levels by 2035, which is a constant challenge for farmers. Cole says as MHV Water holds the nutrient discharge consent for half of the Hekeao/Hinds catchment it takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. MHV Water’s collective environmental model, which has been evolving for nearly a decade, is central to achieving that target. It runs what is likely the largest community-led water monitoring programme in Aotearoa, testing 145 wells across the district and tracking roughly 60 surface water locations. 430-cow dairy operation irrigated by MHV Water MHV Water also manages and supports its shareholders with their farm environmental plans and arranges independent farm environmental audits, charging per hectare for that work. The cooperative works alongside the Hekeao/Hinds Water Enhancement Trust to support farming that is both sustainable and profitable, with one of MHV Water’s own directors serving as a trustee on that board. “We need to make sure we are front-footing what is happening in the area and investing heavily in environmental strategies,” says Cole. “ This will also give us reliable secure water into the future as the scheme consent comes up for renewal.” He says the dairy sector’s growth in the region has attracted scrutiny but pushes back on simplistic narratives. Using our in-depth knowledge of customers’ land, businesses and objectives, we tailor highly specific solutions that differ from farm to farm, even paddock to paddock. To ensure these agronomy-led solutions stay on track for success, we also regularly walk the crops corner to corner to make recommendations along the way. To find out more go to catalystag.co.nz. PADDOCK BY PADDOCK. CORNER BY CORNER. Proudly Supporting Grove Dairies • Mowing • Precision , Direct & Conventional Drilling • Square & Round Baling • Tube & Individual Wrapping • Cultivation FOR ALL YOUR BALING CONTRACTING NEEDS 021 895 887 admin@coldstream.net.nz “The public perception is more cows, more nitrates, more polluting,” he says. “But the standard is really high to convert and a lot of people are actually reducing their nitrate leaching by converting and improving their environmental performance.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=