6 minute read

Small wetland, big difference

Taranaki Farmers

Donna and Philip Cram are helping DairyNZ demonstrate how constructed wetlands can improve water quality.

A wetland built three years ago on Donna and husband Philip’s Awatuna, South Taranaki, farm is a collaboration between DairyNZ, the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA) and Taranaki Regional Council (TRC). It is part of DairyNZ’s ongoing work to encourage farmers to understand the environmental benefits of wetlands.

grew because, it turned out, NIWA was collaborating with DairyNZ to produce guidance on constructed wetland design and performance, to give the rural sector tools and resources to help improve environmental outcomes.

The Cram wetland has become one of six constructed wetland demonstration sites being studied until June 2024 as part of a collaborative, NIWA-led initiative funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

“NIWA staff looked at our farm and where the slopes and run off were, and came up with the site, which was an old, adjusted stream.”

Wetlands can significantly reduce nutrient and sediment losses on farms and improve water quality. They also boost biodiversity and can provide habitat for birds and fish.

DairyNZ general manager sustainable dairy, Dr David Burger, says there’s growing interest among dairy farmers in re-establishing and constructing wetlands, and this project helps improve understanding of how well they work.

“Partnering with dairy farmers and sector organisations helps us improve practical guidance around the use of constructed wetlands and how they can support the drive towards water quality improvements,” he says.

NIWA and TRC are monitoring the performance of Donna and Philip’s wetland to remove nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, and E. coli. DairyNZ funded the installation of monitoring systems, which enable real-time measurements of flow and water quality at the wetland inlet and outlet.

The project started after initial discussions between Donna, Philip and TRC, which then approached NIWA for advice and assistance with design. The project

“NIWA staff looked at our farm and where the slopes and run off were, and came up with the site, which was an old, adjusted stream,” Donna says.

The wetland comprises two percent (0.45ha) of Donna and Philip’s 117ha farm and receives surface and shallow groundwater from 184ha of land. “It’s a nice place to be, with amazing views of Mt Taranaki,” Donna says.

“We have a path round half of it and it and later on we’ll do it all the way around. We have a bit of regenerating bush at the bottom of the wetland that was inaccessible for animals, so there is quite a lot of change happening in that area of the farm.”

Dairy farmers around New Zealand are focused on continuing to reduce their environmental impact. Dr Burger says DairyNZ continues to work closely with dairy farmers and other science organisations to increase understanding of wetland performance.

“We are committed to improving water quality and have an extensive range of work underway to achieve this goal, in line with the sector’s Dairy Tomorrow goal of protecting and nurturing the environment for future generations.”

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Nash and slash

STUART NASH, stripped of his portfolios for big-noting to donors, among other things, will be kept on life support by the PM to avoid a by-election, and, according to one commentator, so he can take the fall when an inquiry on forestry slash goes public

The damage done by forestry slash during recent storms has made it a redhot topic Left-wing commentator Martyn Bradbury reckons former Forestry Minister, ‘The Nashy’, prone to bragging and over-sharing, could yet have more to answer for about slash:

“Just imagine the s#*t he’s told his forestry mates… It will all come out during the slash inquiry and Chippy has to keep The Nashy on until that happens, then cast him out of the Party” Watch this space!

Tik Tok

WHILE TIK Tok may be in the bad books of western Governments over security fears, the social media app is proving a boon for some Kiwi companies who are using it to market their products in Asia

Stuff reports that Fonterra has used TikTok to sell more butter in South East Asia as cooking on the platform gained popularity during the pandemic

In the Philippines, Fonterra launched an #AnchorButterDaysAhead challenge, inviting TikTokers to use the company’s Anchor butter in a wide range of dishes beyond special occasions like Christmas or Ramadan, to showcase its versatility, create content around their cooking experience and tag friends to win prizes

In just three days, the campaign garnered 20 8 million video views, and has since grown to more than 40 million views, with Anchor butter achieving a 95% uplift in brand awareness on TikTok and an 11% increase in sales

Self-sufficiency

ONE OF Fonterra’s key markets could soon become self-sufficient in milk

Malaysia aims to become fully self-sufficient by 2025

Currently, less than half of the country’s annual consumption of milk is produced locally, while the rest is imported

Targeting Scope 3 emissions

THERE IS unease among Fonterra’s 9000 farming families on what the looming Scope 3 emissions target may look like. The apprehension is around what farmers can deliver compared to what global customers and consumers want.

Most of Fonterra’s major customers now have their own Scope 3 emissions targets and they are looking at the co-op, as a supplier to them, to put a target in place.

The co-op is telling farmers that it’s under increasing pressure from customers and consumers, regulators, and more and more from the finance sector, to put out a Scope 3 emissions target.

Fonterra is giving away very little publicly around the target, however, many farmer shareholders are worried about changes that may be forced on them behind the farmgate.

Hogwash

GREENPEACE IS continuing its crusade against Fonterra, this time over its ‘Simply Milk’ product line

The lobby now claims Fonterra’s ‘Carbon Zero’ claim is “based entirely on ineffective carbon offsetting”, despite carbon offsetting being a major part of the Labour-Greens backed policy for NZ

The co-operative and its farmer shareholders are in a bind; they cannot be seen to do nothing on Scope 3 emissions – that encompasses carbon emissions that are not produced by the company itself, but by those that it’s indirectly responsible for, including farmers.

The Fonterra Co-operative Council, which represents the interest of farmer shareholders, says it’s trying to bring some balance to the conversation by representing the views of farmers.

The key will be to make sure Fonterra takes its farmers on the journey, provides support and does not set requirements that are too difficult to achieve.

Malaysians consume about 80 million litres of milk each year, with the rate averaging an 8% growth since 2010

The country needs at least another 30,000 cows to meet growing demand, as children are encouraged to drink fresh milk in schools

Fonterra began operating in Malaysia in 1975 and brands such as Anlene, Anmum and Fernleaf are household names

It also has a manufacturing facility in Kuala Lumpur

Greenpeace claims that this is an embarrassment for Fonterra, and for New Zealand, which prides itself on being a ‘clean green’ producer It claims this is cynical greenwash Change the record What’s embarrassing is Greenpeace bagging New Zealand farmers, who are already among the most efficient in the world, with an on-farm carbon footprint approximately one third of the global average Head

The pace of change within the last 18 months is already putting pressure on farmers. Add to this the challenges around labour, rising input costs and soaring interest rates, Fonterra will be careful not to pile more pressure on its farmers.

But not doing anything is also risky. Fonterra doesn’t want to be in a position where, if it cannot come up with a target, then customers start looking at alternatives.

Those alternatives may be other sources of dairy: globally there are other dairy companies that have set themselves Scope 3 emissions target.

But more importantly, they could turn to alternatives that do not include dairy.

That’s an even bigger risk, warns Fonterra.

Fonterra bosses believe setting a Scope 3 target will help the co-op maintain competitive access to some of its key international markets.

Scope 3 emissions target is here to stay. In the coming weeks and months, Fonterra farmers will find out what it really means for their farming operations.

Doing nothing may not be an option. But Fonterra farmers will be looking hard to their co-op for evidence that changed practices on farm will deliver value into their pockets.

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