Northland farm gates open to good vibes

Dane Trebilco, 8, of Matapouri, left, gets close to friendly cow Chardonney, raised by Courtney McLean (crouching) for school calf club showdays, with Ella Beehre (behind) and 3-year-old Patariki Job, held by his mother Juanita. Photo / Mike Barrington

About 125 people attended Open Gates events held at two Northland dairy farms on Sunday to show urban visitors steps being taken to protect waterways and the environment.

The welcome mat was out at Luke and Lyna Beehre's farm at Hukerenui and at Grant and Danielle Petterd's farm at Waimate North, and the country outing was appreciated, particularly by parents visiting with young families.

Parua Bay plasterer Steve Harrison said he and his wife Aimee had enjoyed watching their daughter Chloe, 6, and son Toby, 5, getting "hands on" with calves and cows at the Beerhe farm as they considered it good for their children to know where milk and other food came from.

Steve and Aimee Harrison enjoy their farm visit with daughter Chloe 6, and son Toby, 5. Photo / Mike Barrington

The couple had also been impressed with the way fenced bush was regenerating and the efforts made to cover the banks of fenced streams with plants soaking up chemicals from fertiliser or animal excretion which could potentially pollute the water.

Bonnie Galbraith, who had driven north from Whangarei with husband Ian and their granddaughter Nicola, had been very interested to see the clean streams and a chicory crop with metre-long taproots cultivated on the Beehre farm to provide food for cows if the weather turned dry.

"I grew up on a dairy farm, but the things they do today to improve the environment are amazing," she said. "The crops are very good. The chicory is great - it keeps the cows healthy."

The Beehres milk about 250 Jersey cows, producing around 100,000kgMS on 90ha of their 115ha farm and nearby runoffs. They also operate a genetics business, supplying elite bulls to the dairy industry.

Farmer Luke Beehre, left, with visitors Nicola Galbraith and her grandparents Ian and Bonnie Galbraith, of Whangarei. Photo / Mike Barrington

Luke Beehre said the Open Gates event had been great. "It was good to see families with kids involved. There was some positive feedback, with some very perceptive questions about effluent management and other environmental issues."

Grant Petterd agreed. About 75 people turned up to tour the 260ha Te Ahu Ahu Rd farm where he and Danielle and four staff milk 240 Fresian-cross cows with a production target of 275,000kgMS this season.

"The farm visit went really well and we got some good feedback," he said.

A crowd returns after inspecting regenerating fenced bush and streams on the Beehre farm. Photos / Mike Barrington.

About 20 Fonterra Farm Source staff were at each of the Open Gates farms, helping with car parking, directing people around the properties and generally helping visitors learn how the farms operate.

The pair of Northland dairy farms were among 40 around the country which opened their gates on Sunday as part of the Dairy Tomorrow strategy aimed at showing how farmers are working to achieve swimmable waterways and reduce farm greenhouse gas emissions.