Calm the Farm Showcases NZ Farms Transitioning to Organic
OANZ is excited to share this new video from member Calm the Farm. Join founder Mike Taitoko as he explores family farms in the Manawatū-Wanganui region that have transitioned to organic, as part of its ‘Digging Deeper’ series.
We call these farmers our pathfinders. These early adopters have taken the leap to regenerative organic farming because they are values-driven and recognise their role as kaitiakitanga of our environment. They are working with nature’s intelligence and producing stunning results.
Changing the way we grow our food begins with a shift in mindset. When we shift our mindset, we can change the world. Stories of every day changemakers can help to open people’s mindset to what is possible. Please share the stories of these wonderful kiwi farmers with your community.
Russell & Charlotte Heald began transitioning their Norsewood dairy farm in 2017 and reduced their feed bill by $200,000 within the first two years. They milk 430 Friesian and Friesian-cross cows in a predominantly System 3 at Norsewood. They are in the process of converting to organic and focus on having diverse pasture species – nine or more – to give cows a mix of nutrients, grasses, legumes and herbs.
The Hogg family at Mingiroa Farm are running 290 cows on 140 ha, with no imported feed supplement, no maize, no palm kernel and no urea. The farm is thriving with rows of asparagus, figs, feijoa and apple trees and a herd of cows on lush, biodiverse paddocks. Mingiroa Farm is BioGro organic certified.
Will and Abbie Foley run a sheep and beef operation on Whatuma Farm in Hawke’s Bay. Their farming practice has shifted away from synthetic fertiliser, leaving longer grass covers and finding more optimal grazing rotation systems.
Willie White’s background in rural banking has been a major influence in him seeking to bring greater financial and ecological resilience into the family farming business. Within months the farm decreased synthetic N, P, K, and S fertiliser, and started planting diverse species pasture and native trees to improve soil and animal health. The farm has already seen a substantial drop in milk urea rates and hopes to achieve organic certification by 2023.