The Farmlander - October 2021 South

Page 16

Head start for NZ in sustainability drive Farmlands’ Head of Agronomy and Farm Systems, Sam Lucas, says our natural advantages put NZ farmers in pole position in the global race to greater agricultural sustainability.

First up, what is agronomy? Great question! Behind the word is a really broad definition encompassing many different aspects, but in simple terms agronomy considers how to grow crops effectively, profitably and while caring for our natural resources and environment. What attracted you to it as a field of study? I fell into agronomy during university days because it seemed a lot easier to earn money by driving combine and pea harvesters than shearing and farm labouring! From there I started to pay attention to the crops I was harvesting and how they are grown. Do you think agronomy and farming systems are becoming more sustainable? Yes. From a New Zealand perspective, with only a few exceptions, our farm systems are pasture-based (even our arable systems generally have a pasture/livestock component) and have always had the advantage of being based on sustainable practices.

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I am really enjoying the current discussions and focus towards the environment, including carbon and regenerative agriculture, that have shaken the industry. It has challenged us to think about how we can be better and potentially do things differently. Generally New Zealand farmers have been and will continue to be excellent custodians of the land. The farming industry has also been quick to adopt new technologies and change when needed and the modern farming business of today is a far more complex and evolved business from only 10-20 years ago. I am excited to think how farming will continue to evolve to meet the new challenges and be better for it. What do you think are the key components of a sustainable farming system? Our understanding of sustainable continues to evolve as well. We now have a far broader focus of what sustainable means. Previously our focus was on efficiently producing product with consideration for the environment; we now consider the environment before we produce. It’s a subtle shift in words but a big shift in attitude. We firstly need to consider that sustainable farm systems need to

be profitable – if they’re not profitable they aren’t sustainable. Coupled with that is preserving or improving our natural capital/resources, e.g. soil and water and also our people and wellbeing, something that has previously not been well recognised. The Maori philosophy of kaitiakitanga really resonates with me, I love the concept of people, land and environment all being connected. You must have come across some inspirational stories of farm turnarounds? I’m inspired all the time and love hearing the DairyNZ stories of farmer-led catchment groups and the good work being done. I have a special affinity with the high country and have been lucky to have had some long-term involvement with the Rakaia Gorge area in the Canterbury foothills, an amazing place of natural beauty. They all do a wonderful job and there are a number of inspiring farms doing fantastic things in terms of care for their environment and continually looking for improvement, particularly incorporating regenerative philosophies to their farm systems. Chris and Jo at Glenthorne Station and Paul and Prue Ensor at Glenaan Station are a couple that come to mind.

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Articles inside

Clean water storage reaches new heights

4min
pages 61-64

Century Farms – Five generations call farm home

2min
page 65

Technology helps take strain out of fencing

2min
pages 59-60

From field tiles to smooth-wall pipes

2min
pages 57-58

Wise product choices do two jobs at once

4min
pages 51-54

‘Blanket’ keeps lid on open-stored water

3min
pages 55-56

Angus breeders embrace tissue sampling advances

4min
pages 46-48

Lifestyle blocks offer path to biodiversity

4min
pages 42-44

Mating’s trifecta: bulls, heat and AI

2min
page 45

New research proves deferred grazing works

2min
pages 49-50

Variety the spice in pig genetics recipe

2min
page 41

Smooth weaning puts calves on good path

2min
pages 39-40

Head start for NZ in sustainability drive

5min
pages 16-17

Restoring the magic on marginal land

2min
page 23

NZ dairying leads in lowering emissions

4min
pages 28-30

Growers in good heart over hazelnuts

5min
pages 20-22

Connections central to innovation park's vision

6min
pages 18-19

Flexibility needed in feeding broodmares

2min
pages 37-38

5 minutes with Tanya

4min
pages 6-7

When biodiversity thrives the environment thrives

7min
pages 24-27
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