TAKING PRIDE IN YOUR FARM ENVIRONMENT

Helen Gilder 1142 Owaka Highway, R.D.1., Balclutha.

Experience: 37 Years Farming with husband Peter in West Otago & South Otago.

“The Dream”, was to own our own property by the time we were 35.

We leased a property in West Otago for 13.5 years, with the right of purchase at a set price.

Mid- eighties were not very kind, and we had to basically buy and sell the same day.

Landcorp Farming Ltd employed us in 1990 to manage Dawson Downs, in South Otago

which we developed and ran as a finishing unit.

In February 1998, Landcorp asked us to shift onto Waitepeka Farm [adjacent to Telford

Rural Polytechnic] to develop it into a Finishing Unit, 3 years in, 2001- 2012, we have

developed Waitepeka to what it is today, 1600 Effective Ha, Dairying and Dairy Support,

Deer Breeding & Finishing, Beef Finishing and Sheep Breeding & Finishing.

We are Business Managers working the land for Landcorp Farming Ltd.

But! From day one, we have treated the properties as if they were our own, and taken the

opportunity given to us with both hands. I enjoy very much working outside in the

environment, knowing that our plantings create a fantastic ambience, is a visual patchwork from

the air, to giving shelter/shade which will not only protect us, and our staff, from those howling

gales, but our cows will be so much more content, with the shade/shelter provided.

But for me it goes beyond that, it also creates colour, form, and adds interest to the eye,

the landscape as a whole, and to hear the chorus of bird song, and visually see the abundance of

birdlife gives us and our staff such pleasure. We all enjoy working on our picturesque farm and

take pride in what we have achieved to date.

Also the farming community and the general public look at your farm, and it is so very

gratifying to receive recognition that you are ‘farming for the future’.

But it wasn’t always like this… We had blank canvasses – with no plantings as such

around existing houses, and facilities, let alone shelter for animals or any such thing as riparian

planting.

Our aims and goals are set through our passion about leaving the land in a better state

than when we started. We achieve this - through sustainable farming, including protecting and

enhancing our environment, to improve water quality. We don’t just say this – we are

passionate about making this happen. Landcorp fully support our ideas and plans.

Landcorp’s mission is to be NZ’s best livestock farmer, Environmentally, Socially and

Economically.

Our Vision/Mission for Waitepeka is that all ditches/drains and riparian areas fenced off,

are planted out, and that we reinstate some already identified Wetland Areas. [Next exciting

project ahead?]

This will not be achieved in my time here at Waitepeka, as it is a huge project. My vision

is that from the air you can visually see a fantastic patchwork/tapestry created by our plantings.

We achieve our goals through knowledge gained over the years by observing what other

farmers have done, advice from nurseryman, attending Field Days, reading publications, and

getting the Regional Council involved on farm to give us advice.

We have won: Otago Region - Ballance Farm Environment Supreme Award 2011, including the LIC

Dairy Award;

PGG Wrightson Land & Life Award

Landcorp’s Outstanding Contribution Award 2010; and

AgricultureITO, the Farmer Trainer of the Year 2009 – 10.

I am presently taking part in the AWDT Escalator Programme 2012.

It is now my aim to share my knowledge, to support and encourage others, to improve

management of drains/streams and water ways by fencing and planting.

Riparian Areas – are designed to suit specific locations and to perform a range of

functions.

Protecting and stabilising stream banks

Reducing Erosion

Allowing Flood Waters to pass freely

Creating shade, which reduces weed growth in waterways

Improving Water Quality – a buffer between land use and waterways traps sediment

and nutrients

Improve Stream Health

Enhancing Biodiversity by providing corridors for wildlife.

Shelter - Provides shade for animals, encourages grass growth, birdlife, and for aesthetics

which adds value to your farm.

Wetlands - These are areas called soak areas, places for water to filter through before

entering into main water ways, giving us better quality of water. These are fantastic areas for

birds, fish, insects, and are spawning areas. They act like sponges, trapping nutrients and

sediment and therefore improving water quality as well as reducing the downstream impact of

floods and maintaining the water table in drier areas.

Riparian Restoration:Key Steps- Suggest you identify areas important to you that you want to restore and enter onto

your farm map.

Planning

Consents and approvals

Site Preparation

Species choice & plant selection

Planting

Maintenance

Planning – To help you get started you may like to approach your Regional Council, as they

give free advice. This will make it easy for you to decide on your first small project to plant.

Neighbours, local farmers, or friends, that are passionate about planting and have excellent

examples, that you like, would be well worth approaching for assistance and advice. Local

Native Nurseries would also be a good choice to make, I have found them very good, and they

are only too happy to give free advice, if you purchase your plants from them. If you do not

want to plant the plants a contractor could be employed. The main thing is to have clear

objectives and decide what approach and system you will use, who will be involved, and what

resources will be required.

Regional Councils:

Otago – The Land Resources Team [Alice Webster]

Southland – Environment Southland [ Nathan Cruickshanks]

Canterbury – Environment Canterbury

West Coast Regional Council

Marlborough District Council

Consents and Approvals - Involve your local Regional Council, most waterways have a

land drainage function and this means there can be restrictions on what can be planted alongside

waterways. [Bear in mind that use of chemicals near water may also mean that a resource

consent is needed], so before you start, check with district and regional authorities about the

need for consent approvals and potential for funding help.

Funds - Otago

Honda Trees – native plants

Clutha District Council Biodiversity Projects

DCC & Speight’s Fund – Dunedin Boundary

National Biodiversity Advice and Condition Funds – administered by DOC

Environment Fund – MfE

Lotteries, Environment and Heritage

IWI Land related funds

National private trusts you can apply for eg. Lions

Site Preparation - Erect fencing to exclude stock from area. Consider putting the fence a bit

further back to allow plants to grow. Flax when it grows up can move fences if planted too

close. Plants can also interfere with electric fences so allow more space.

Success is best achieved when competing vegetation is removed prior to planting where

possible, particularly in drier areas [but not on steep banks where existing vegetation cover

provides some stabilisation]

Figure 1. Figure 2.

Fenced margin to filter channelled runoff. Planting Guide.

Species Choice & Plant Selection - Soils and climate need to be carefully evaluated across

the whole site and appropriate species chosen – those which can tolerate the extremes they will

encounter. There may be considerable variation within one site.

Regional Councils have very good publications to guide you, or consult with someone

with experience in plant choice.

Basing the species choice on locally sourced species that would naturally occur in your area will

increase your chance of success, as they are most suited to the climate and soil conditions. Eco-

sourcing of plants will give the best outcome for biodiversity.

Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust in Dunedin [Otago] is a great source for seedlings. They encourage

you to place orders well in advance, and all revenue from these sales go towards their own

protection projects. Therefore through your environment project, you would be helping another.

Office 03 479-0011 or email yeptrust@gmail.com

Restoration seedlings can be grown in pots of volume 25cm2 to 400cm2 [T7 through to RX90]

Seedlings should have stem diameter at ground level of at least 5 mm when planted out. Well

grown grade and has been hardened off before planting out.

Planting - Spacing 1.5m x 1.5m

This equates to an average of 4500 plants per hectare.

Different species which occur naturally make a sustainable plant community.

Suggested mix of 15% large trees, 45% small trees/shrubs, and 40% understory

shrubs/grasses.

Plant trees further away from the stream and sedges and tussocks closer to the water as

they can move with high flows and don’t mind wet feet as much as some tree species.

Seedlings are best planted between autumn and spring while they are dormant. Main

considerations are moisture and frost – if the site is prone to heavy winter frosts it is best left

until spring. Lower altitude, coastal sites can generally be established in autumn.

In riparian margins, the effects of floods should also be considered. Newly planted

seedlings are more susceptible to the effects of waterlogging than established plants, so it may

be preferable to wait until peak winter floods have passed.

When planting the hole should be well cultivated and seedlings well firmed in.

Including a 21g slow release fertiliser tablet in the bottom of the planting hole will supply a

balanced volume of nutrients to the young plant. This improves vigour and reduces the time

needed until plants become well established. [ I have used dry sheep manure in bottom of holes

worked into soil, planted seedling and laid down thick layers of newspaper over lapping in a

wide circle around seedling, and then placed a thick layer of mulch on top – lasted 6 months ]

Getting plants into ground involves considerable effort, so labour needs to be well

organized, equipped, and supervised to be effective.

Figure 3. CombiGuard Protectors

Protecting the plants - Installing a ‘CombiGuard’ [0800 600 789 or email

sales@newfield.co.nz ] for each seedling provides a wide range of benefits. This involves a

wool mat around the plant’s base and a 300mm high plastic sleeve, supported by bamboo sticks.

This provides each plant with some protection from wild animals, wind, frost and herbicides. A

microclimate is also established which encourages growth.

Maintenance - Removing competing weeds will allow seedlings to get adequate water and

light. Can achieve this using herbicides [ after ensuring that we hold the appropriate consents ]

In wetter areas spot spraying around each seedling works well; in drier areas spraying for total

weed control between seedling gives the best results. The plastic sleeves will protect the

seedlings from spray, although choice of herbicide is critical. Sleeves can be removed once the

plant is well established – 1 to 4 years, depending on species and site conditions.

If not installing ‘CombiGuard’ system release plants by trampling weeds around

seedling, then carefully spraying around base of each plant [may have to physically pull some

weeds from base of seedling, natives do not like chemical] This is what I have done in the past

with riparian/shelter areas. Can also use weighted down, wetted newspaper or woollen carpet

1m x 1m square around plants to act as weed mats.

What does it all cost? - Depends on type of Labour you use

Variation in plant costs and establishing each site, will give you a range of costs

Commercial rates for labour will put your costs towards top end of the range

Maintenance must be undertaken – exact maintenance costs will depend on the site

characteristics and the weather in the first few years but it is likely to be around $1.50 - $2.50

per seedling per year, for at least two years.

Fencing costs need to be considered.

Costs Savings – Source your own poplar and willow [you must avoid weed species such

as crack and grey willow] cuttings from your neighbour, friend, [we did this for the first 3 years]

Once mature, they then become your nursery to take your cuttings from.

You may like to plant a group of Wands/Whips/Stakes/Poles in a specific place with

easy access, as your nursery, which we have done with our new willow variety “Moutere”. [End

of a fenced of Wetland Area, with access straight off a lane]

“Moutere” – Medium size, 15 – 20m. We have found this variety of willow can stand dry and

wet conditions, is a great shape, holds leaves longer, is able to be trimmed/hedged, is suitable

in narrow areas, is excellent for river stabilisation and the bees love them.

We purchase these as a rooted plant and have them planted for us. But the beauty of

these plants are they are big enough for us to cut back to half their size, retain the cuttings, and

soak them for at least 3 weeks, then sort out strongest Wands and plant them into another area

saving us money, and giving us more plants. What does not strike we go back the following

year and replant.

Splitting up a flax bush – source a plant on farm, neighbour/friend and split up into sections,

trim sides, leaving centre lead leaf, place in a water trough or cover with wet sacks so roots do

not dry out, until ready for planting. Better success rate if planted straight away.

Potting up seedlings – this is another way of being resourceful with seedlings you discover

on farm that the birds have scattered and grown.

Involving a school with your planting programme [ Arbor Day, Wetland Day ] this is also a

way of “sowing the seed” into our future generations, along with exposing them to a hands on

fun day planting.

For this to work you need to be well organized and children well supervised to be

effective

I have all holes dug prior with plants laid out.

Our Local school is involved, and include our staff and any Telford Student on work

experience here at the time. I explain to them, how to plant, and what plants we are planting.

I ask them questions - Why do you think we plant trees?

What is a riparian area?

They come up with some amazing answers and it is a joy to see happy excited children planting

We also visit the previous year’s site to check out how their plants are growing and I

give them afternoon tea.

I have placed a plaque at each site with school name, and date, and encourage the

children to re visit site at any time.

Plants that I mainly use on Waitepeka: Poplars – Crowsnest,

Willows – Moutere

Eucalyptus Cordata

Natives – Cordyline autralis, Phormium cookianum & tennax, Cortaderia richardii

south island Toe Toe, Grislinia littoralis, Hebies, Hoheria sextylosa, Pittosporum

eugeniodes, Pittosporum Stephens Island, Plagianthus regius, Pseudopanax arboreus,

Sophora microphylla South Island Kowahai, Carex secta – pukio, Chionochloa rubra.

Messages: Understand that there are a wide range of costs for good drain/stream management.

Benefits of planting natives, along and around waterways- improves stream health,

ultimately water quality.

By fencing/ planting to keep heavy stock out of drains - Reduces drain maintenance

costs.

Improves soils, and grass growth.

Gives your Stock shelter.

Enhances Biodiversity.

Adds value to your farm.

A challenge for us all is to find the balance between development and the environment.

Drainage network is vital for productive farms, improving the way we manage our

drains isn’t going to solve everything, but it is one way to reduce the adverse effects of

land use on the waterways.

What works in your catchment?Water Quality is a major issue; collectively we need to work together taking the lead,

working with our Councils to achieve results - “Smart Farming”

Take Home: Bundle of 3 Cuttings of willow - “Moutere” to start your nursery or your first

planned planting area.

Please sign register if you would like any further contact by me to help with advice/

answers to any further questions you may have in the future.

Good luck with these cuttings – and you taking steps in the direction of

“Taking pride in Your Environment”Bibliography - Otago Regional Council, environments considerations for clean streams, Waihora Ellesmere Trust, Riparian Restoration – lessons learned.