31/08/2025
This is a LinkedIn post of mine which I’ve censored a bit for Facebook purposes 🤐
Are we really leading the world?
It’s said time & time again, Kiwi farmers are the “best in the world”, “the most efficient”, “the lowest emissions”, “the best animal welfare” the accolades go on.
But who says this? We do, the Kiwis. Self-proclaimed pats on the backs with little justification outside our own island bubble. If we were to take a closer look at the progress the rest of the world is making in terms of science, regulation & environmental efforts, we’re left for dust. Instead, our industry bodies use the excuse “our systems are different”, “that’s not applicable here”, "our cows are different" to phoo phoo the idea of taking a harder look inside what we do & how we can improve.
Truth be told, if we were to actually be the best in the world, these industry organisation’s CEOs will not have as big of a paycheck that they currently get away with. It's not about the farmers, it's about the sales & the big wigs' salaries.
Soil health, pasture management, environmental outcomes, animal health, nutrition & welfare…all areas that for the most part are not done well here with the very simple basics forgotten & sadly an industry infiltrated by organisations & poorly educated (if educated at all) consultants that have tunnel vision.
Look at how much winter nitrogen is being applied across the country currently. While there are a few one-off scenarios that are forgivable, winter nitrogen applications are NOT OK regardless of the farming system.
Winter nitrogen or DAP reliance is a symptom of, not just a wealthy sales rep but a broken system or an overstocked one that cannot maintain its level of production sustainably. Often very poor soil health at the root of it all yet left undiagnosed because the wrong metrics are being used.
We continue to use ‘old science’, science that was new 50 years ago & once applicable when we knew no better to promote the use of high input, soluble fertilisers like nitrogen even during the middle of winter. Lets not kid ourselves with “spring starts on the 1st September” – it doesn’t, either officially or climatically. Most don’t lamb in spring (NI especially), we lamb in the middle of winter when the feed supply is at an all-time low & the demand at its highest consequently with unnecessary losses & slower growth.
Similarly, dairy calving is in the middle of winter yet advisors insist the most ‘efficient’ feed is the pasture. But we don’t have enough to grass to feed the stock so lets throw the nitrogen on in the middle of winter & then follow the cows thereafter. The ‘bury our heads’ & ‘she’ll be right’ attitude.
When the going gets tough, the nitrogen gets going.
It’s not “strategic N”, it’s reliance on N that’s the problem.
As an industry, we can’t claim we’re leading the world when we rely on using winter nitrogen to ignore a broken system.
Farm consultants & sales reps have a lot to answer for as they convince farmers nitrogen is the only way their farm isn't going bust. Your average-Joe Lincoln or Massey trained aka Ballance/Ravensdown funded farm consultant doesn’t actually know any better & only has one tool in their toolbox...nitrogen & if that doesn’t work, a higher rate of nitrogen.
If your consultant or sales rep is telling you you need winter N, look into why because it's not only an expensive process in terms of product cost but is not conducive to good animal health or a sustainable system.
