DUNG BEETLES NOW ON 350 FARMS

Above: Thousands of dung beetles are already at work in NZ soils, tirelessly working to improve soil and plant health.

NEW ZEALAND FARMING IS transforming and those at the leading innovative edge are looking back at our past. In fact, 100 million years ago! Dung beetles evolved with our large exotic herbivorous and should have been on the boat with them. While a bit slow off the mark we can now rebalance our farming systems.

There are around 350 farmers who have released over 1000 dung beetle colonies the full length of the country.

The two people driving the rebalancing of New Zealand’s farming system are Andrew Barber and Dr Shaun Forgie.

Andrew Barber project managed the Dung Beetle Release Strategy Group, an MPI farmer led project to import dung beetles into New Zealand, while internationally recognised entomologist Dr Shaun Forgie was the lead scientist for the project.

Inspired by their desire to see the dung beetle improve New Zealand’s soils and waterways, the two men established Dung Beetle Innovations as a commercial enterprise.

Now they want to see as many farmers as possible enjoy the benefits provided by dung beetles.

There are 11 species allowed in New Zealand with seven presently being mass reared at the world’s largest dung beetle breeding facility in Auckland. Shaun matches the species to the type of farm they will be released on, and gives advice on where to release them, which is extremely easy to do.

Raising dung beetles is like planting trees, says Andrew.

“It takes two or three years to get established. Then by about year five there is a noticeable population. Around year nine they are at the farms carrying capacity and start fanning out.”

For a one-off cost of $6000 for the average sized farm dung beetles will bring multiple benefits to a farm and pay for themselves in greater farm productivity and improved water quality, Andrew says.