ETS Carbon Farming Field Day at Ngapeke Farm

There will be a ETS field day held at Ngapeke Farm on October 29.

ETS field day Crowe Horwath, in partnership with Rabobank and Waikato Regional Council, will host the Carbon Farming Field Day at Ngapeke Farm next week.

The Field Day events are an opportunity for local farmers to learn more about the Emissions Trading Scheme.

The Carbon Farming Field Day will be an opportunity for interested parties to hear from a range of experts, both from the public and private sectors.

"This is a great opportunity for all of us to understand the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), how this can apply to hill country farming — both the possible windfalls and the challenges to be mindful of," said Jarrod Godfrey, senior client manager and agribusiness specialist, Crowe Horwath.

"There is a lot of hesitancy around joining the ETS, mainly because farmers don't fully understand what it might mean for them and their farm. The purpose of the Carbon Farming Field Day is to help those farmers understand the ETS, and how it might apply to them."

Guest speakers at the Waikato Field Day include Simon Petrie from Te Uru Rakau / Forestry NZ, Blake Holgate at RaboResearch and Bala Tikkisetty from the Waikato Regional Council.

Speakers on the day will outline major changes across:
• forestry and conservation planting, and the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)
• realising the sustainable advantage and the benefits of investing in sustainability
• the benefits of hill country soil erosion management
• funding assistance.

Rabobank's animal proteins and sustainability analyst, Blake Holgate stresses the importance of keeping up to date with regulations.

"Regulation of the New Zealand agricultural sector is set to tighten over the next 12 to 18 months, requiring increased investment into the ethical and sustainable aspects of New Zealand's production systems," he said.

"However, changing global consumer trends and market requirements ensure there are benefits to be realised from investing into these aspects of New Zealand farming.

"Farmers who actively develop their understanding of what is required of them will be in the best position to take advantage of these opportunities."

Bala Tikkisetty, Waikato Regional Council's sustainable agriculture advisor, encouraged landowners to attend the field day to hear more about managing hill country erosion.

"When we deal with hill country soil erosion, the main emphasis should be on erosion control, rather than controls stopping eroded sediment from entering waterways," he said.

* Carbon Farming Field Day: Date: Monday, October 29, 1-4pm, Ngapeke Farm, 262 Ngapeke Road, Otorohanga, RD 5. Register at marketing.crowehorwath.co.nz/WaikatoCarbonFieldday