Water Quality Monitoring

Real-time water quality monitoring is a new technology with few resources to support farmer usage. This project has been testing how it can be applied in practice, by establishing three shallow groundwater nitrate monitoring sites on Wainono Farm, a dairy farm, one self-funded by the farmer. The range in nitrate recordings is not large, but the dynamic nature of the nitrate concentrations is clear.

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Today’s Agricultural Degree

As I near completion of my summer internship at The AgriBusiness Group and prepare to return to student life at Lincoln University, I reflect on the value and relevance of today’s agricultural degree – specifically for the environmental management of farm systems. This year, I will undertake my fourth and final year of a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) with a Major in Environmental Management.

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A Helluva Hard Year

Sheffield Deer Farmer Stu Stokes – talks flooding, covid, mental health & navigating legislation

It’s been a tough one. A year of significant challenges has hit many Cantabrian farmers. Chatting to Stu Stokes and daughter Holly, I came to understand just how hard. Over the past two years Stu has lost a brother to cancer, lost his best mate, faced Covid market challenges, dealt with flooding and huge winds and to top it off the “bloody Sheffield Pub burnt down!”. Through all this, legislation changes requiring implementation of a Farm Environmental Plan (FEP), which is audited, is actually helping Stu with the direction and management of his business, “…to do nothing isn’t an option”.

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