Fonterra chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden cut the ribbon at an open day on Friday, on the 200ha farm, south of Te Awamutu. Stewart Ledgard, from AgResearch’s climate, land and environment section, said the farm’s greenhouse gas footprint was expected to be 20 per cent lower than that of the average NZ  dairy farm reports The Southland Times.

He estimated the Tokanui footprint, of 700 cows on 200ha, would be about 740g of carbon dioxide per litre of milk compared to the 900g average. Dr Ledgard said the farm’s greenhouse gas emissions would be measured next year. The future of NZ dairying and its export income depended on raising farm efficiency and lowering greenhouse gas emissions, he said.

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AgResearch’s new dairy research and development farm provides a vital facility to trial leading-edge technology and novel farming practices to help the dairy industry meet today’s challenges, and grow the sector. Based on commercially credible farming practices, Tokanui Dairy Research Farm, just south of Te Awamutu in the Waikato, is now up and running and on track to commence milking in August. AgResearch has spent $6.5 million over the last year converting its 340 ha Tokanui beef finishing operation into a dairy farm.

The farm will comprise a milking platform of approximately 200 ha which will initially run 800 cows. It will provide a large herd context for research and development, with the remaining 140 ha used as a support block. Tokanui’s primary objective is to operate a research and development dairy farm, based on commercially sound practices, to address research directed by Goal 1 of AgResearch’s 2020 Science strategy. This will include research and development in environmental management, productivity gains and differentiated milks.

In recognition that the farm will be a focal point for environmental research, much work has gone into establishing baseline environmental data of land, soil and water status prior to the conversion. Developed with guidance from Environment Waikato, The Whole Farm Plan provides a benchmark of resources to assess whether farm management practices have improved – or worsened – the environmental impact of modern farming. AgResearch has also been working closely with Environment Waikato on stream and wetland protection and enhancement.  (more…)