“The success of the New Zealand primary sector is built on our international reputation for producing food and products that are good for people and good for the planet. Our best chance of addressing agricultural emissions is to take a leadership position and act collectively. And, as a farmer-owned co-operative, we understand the benefit of working together to achieve good outcomes.”
Ravensdown has shown its commitment to the future of New Zealand farming by uniting with Government and leading New Zealand agribusinesses to address the challenge of climate change and sustainability.
The Joint Venture (JV) leadership coalition, recently launched by the Prime Minister at the National Fieldays at Mystery Creek, sees the Government partner with agribusiness leaders at scale to help New Zealand lower agricultural emissions.
The line-up of JV partners – ANZCO Foods, Fonterra, Rabobank, Ravensdown, Silver Fern Farms, and Synlait – represent the full spectrum of the food and fibre industry, giving Government insight and access to the entire farm-to-consumer-to-investor value chain.
Garry Diack, Ravensdown’s Chief Executive Officer, says the industry owes it to farmers to partner, invest and collaborate to help solve the most significant challenge of our time.
“The success of the New Zealand primary sector is built on our international reputation for producing food and products that are good for people and good for the planet. Our best chance of addressing agricultural emissions is to take a leadership position and act collectively. And, as a farmer-owned co-operative, we understand the benefit of working together to achieve good outcomes.”
Each of the industry partners has a strong commercial focus on investment and innovation that will practically help farmers lower farm emissions. Together, with Government, they will work to put new tools and technology in the hands of farmers faster.
The partners have made a funding commitment that will rise to around $35 million a year by 2025, matched by Government, which would see at least $170 million invested over the next four years. Garry says that each of the partners brings unique and complementary innovations, insights and strengths to the table.
“Ravensdown takes a science-led approach to smarter farming for a better New Zealand. Using technology, science, and smart people, we work in partnership with our farmers to provide the nutrients and agronomic solutions they need, hand-in-hand with innovative environmental products and services. We’re making good progress with advancements in things like precision fertiliser, effluent pond systems and soil science, but there’s much more we can all achieve together.”
Mike Manning, Ravensdown’s General Manager Innovation and Strategy, adds that effluent ponds on dairy farms are a common occurrence and without intervention will naturally emit methane into the environment — commonly referred to as one of the greenhouse gasses — the others being carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.
In conjunction with Lincoln University, Ravensdown has developed technology to stop methane from being generated and emitted from those effluent ponds. “That technology is available now and farmers can start to adopt it to help reduce their on-farm methane emissions,” says Mike.
“In partnership with the Crown, Ravensdown has also just embarked on a $22 million seven-year research project, looking at whether other farming emissions can be reduced, principally nitrous oxide, and also nitrate leaching into waterways.”
Most nitrous oxide on farms comes from urine spots deposited in a concentrated area by animals grazing pasture and crops. Those urine deposits contain high amounts of nitrogen.
“The research will look at whether we can reduce the emissions and leaching at a farm level. With technology, we believe we can. Lincoln University and Plant & Food Research are the two research partners.
The other piece of research that we’ve been looking at is around precision fertiliser. The more precise we can be with where the fertiliser is placed, the less opportunity there is for loss. We’re looking at various sophisticated technologies with respect to ground and aerial spreading machines, so that we can be very confident the fertiliser is going exactly where the farmer plans it to go.
GIS capability is placed in the aircraft or the fertiliser ground spreader and that enables the fertiliser to be delivered with precision to the correct location and rate applied. This requires sophisticated computer technology.”
Mike says Ravensdown has been researching this technology for some time. It is now at the point of commercialisation, with the technology starting to be rolled out to aircraft and ground-based spreaders.
A science-led approach to soil fertility, smarter technologies on farms and a great team of agri-managers and environmental consultants from Kaitaia to Bluff, are helping Ravensdown interconnect farmers’ productivity and sustainability.
Gary Bowick, General Manager Sales and Marketing, acknowledges that the challenge for Ravensdown is to support farmers to be more productive and to get better performance from their land while providing help with ongoing sustainable best practices on-farm.
“There is a dichotomy going on where we need to support our customers at both ends of the spectrum. We are trying to interconnect productivity and sustainability,” says Gary. “We’re here to support good people doing their best every day in what can only be described as very challenging times.”
As no two farms are the same, Ravensdown’s team of agri-managers is actively working with farmers around the country to ensure they get what’s needed for their specific farming operation. Soil tests are taken and sent to ARL, Ravensdown’s testing laboratory.
The agri-manager will then sit with the farmer to go over the results and make the most effective fertiliser recommendations to put the right product, in the right amount, in the right place at the right time. “Our agri-managers are the face of Ravensdown, and we really encourage our people to live in and be involved in the local communities they work in,” says Gary.
“We also have 30 plus environmental consultants visiting farms throughout the country who will sit with farmers and help prepare a farm environmental plan. We fully expect fertiliser sales to continue to decline over time but that our environmental and sustainability work will become increasingly more important for our customers.”
More farmers are getting to grips with new technology and how they can help improve their farming practises. Technology like HawkEye farm mapping is helping farmers make smarter decisions for better farm and environmental outcomes.
“There is a huge opportunity in technology and we’re seeing more young people, the sons and daughters of farmers, thirsty for this. They want to look at their phones and get instant information or be able to order products while out working on the farm,” he says.
Taking a more collaborative approach to creating new technology amongst other industry players will also benefit farmers who can be overwhelmed by the range of products being marketed to them. Ravensdown is working closely with other industry leaders to keep innovating and show leadership in the technology area and wider agricultural industry.
“Farmers are managing challenges on multiple fronts, and we are supporting them so that they can do what they do best and farm with confidence in the future,” says Gary. “We want to enhance their productivity and production on farm but also support them with their sustainable practices, particularly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving water quality.”
Ravensdown has worked hard for surety of supply during unprecedented global volatility over the past 12 months and the impact of Covid-19 on shipping which has resulted in unprecedented upward pricing pressure. Throw into the mix a wetter, albeit warmer winter, and Gary agrees it’s been a tough time for farmers in general.
“There are so many challenges coming at our customers however we stand ready to support them shoulder to shoulder.”
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