The Experts

New Zealand’s carbon soil stocks: what do we know?

9 August 2021

New Zealand has on average 90 tonnes per hectare of carbon (C) stored in its soils, which by world standards is high (Table 1 opposite). Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research soil scientist and research area leader Dr Paul Mudge discusses why soil carbon stocks are important and where we sit on the world spectrum when it comes to the carbon levels in our soils.

Read article

The Experts

Walking the path less trodden

9 August 2021

A risk-averse lending sector and carbon farming sales have left many of our younger generation with limited options for farm ownership. But tenacity, determination and good old-fashioned hard work have seen a young couple buy their first farm on the shores of Lake Taupō . Ravensdown shareholders Sean Nixon and Ruby Mulinder talk Ravensdown through the process of first-farm purchase, running a smart sheep and beef system in a nutrient sensitive catchment, and their venture into sheep milking.

Read article

The Experts

Hype gets in the way of cause and effect

9 August 2021

Colorectal cancer surgeon Professor Frank Frizelle and researcher Dr Jacqui Keenan highlight the potential misconception in confusing ‘association’ with ‘cause and effect’ when it comes to nitrates and cancer.

Read article

The Experts

Farm Environment Planning: preparing for the journey ahead

9 August 2021

Farmers often have ideas about what they’d like to achieve on farm, but can struggle with documenting actions and prioritising them. Ravensdown Principal Environmental Consultant Adrian Brocksopp discusses how a workshop run in the Waikato helped several farmers take their first actions in preparation for Farm Environment Planning.

Read article