DAIRY
Irrigation improvements benefit environment and production A focus on careful water management through irrigation improvements has enabled a Selwyn farming family to significantly reduce their nitrogen losses and improve their production. WORDS AND IMAGE SUPPLIED BY DAIRY NZ
Marv and Jane Pangborn originally started at Alderbrook farm near Rakaia as a 50/50 sharemilking partnership in 1987. Today, the couple own the farm. Their daughter and son-in-law Lauren and 48
RE AL FARM E R
Liam Kelly are sharemilkers there, while also contract milking for the family’s dairy farm Karetu. The two dairy farms milk 1,200 cows on 338 effective hectares, and use three support blocks of 184 hectares.
Alderbrook farm is one of over 40 partner farms in Selwyn and Hinds which DairyNZ is supporting to reduce their nitrogen losses to meet Environment Canterbury requirements.
