Northland farms to open gates for water inspection

Luke and Lyna have three children - Georgia, Josh and Ella - and run a dairy and genetics business milking 250 cows and supplying bulls to both farmers and the genetics industry.

Two Northland dairy farms — one at Waimate North, the other at Waiotu near Hikurangi — will open their gates on December 10 to show what they are doing to protect waterways.
Urban visitors will be able to talk to the farmers, walk around their farms and see how they're caring for the environment and their animals.

Fun activities are planned for children and there will be a selection of Fonterra products for the visitors to enjoy.

The pair of Northland dairy farms are among 40 around the country opening their gates on December 10 as part of the new Dairy Tomorrow strategy aimed at showing how farmers are working to achieve swimmable waterways and reduce farm greenhouse gas emissions.

Grant and Danielle, pictured with daughters Sarah, 5, and Ruby, 18 months, milk 640 cows with the help of four staff.

Dairy Tomorrow — an initiative involving DairyNZ, Federated Farmers, the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand and Dairy Women's Network — was launched last week with commitments and goals to ensure the dairy industry operates sustainably.

Greenpeace agriculture campaigner Gen Toop claimed the plan was "full of crap, just like our rivers" and the only thing that would save polluted waterways was fewer cows.

"The dairy leadership is betraying New Zealanders with their cynical PR spin," Ms Toop said.

But Federated Farmers said opening dairy farms to all New Zealanders was an opportunity for farmers to debunk some myths around farmers' environmental management.

"This is a great idea and an opportunity for all Kiwis, rural and urban, to visit a farm and see at first-hand the environmental work farmers have done and are still undertaking," said Federated Farmers dairy industry chairman Chris Lewis.

"Everyone is welcome, especially those people who have been less complimentary towards farmers. They can see what perception is versus actual reality."

Northland dairy farmers opening their gates are Grant and Danielle, who have been farming at Waimate North for six years, and Luke and Lyna, who have been on their Waiotu farm for 15 years, the first five in a 50/50 equity partnership with Lyna's parents and since then in their own right.

The surnames of the couples and their farm locations are disclosed to potential visitors who register on the Fonterra website opengates.co.nz.

Chris Lewis said the 40 farms picked for open day scrutiny met criteria around car parking and health and safety.

"The reality is you can't have dozens of people trooping across properties or paddocks. It will have an impact and so these selected farms are suited to handle that rate of activity," he said.

"We want the visitors to see that farmers are environmentally smart and committed to ongoing improvements. As a farmer, it's our day to showcase our business and the pride we have in what we do."

To attend the open gates events on December 10, visit www.opengates.co.nz, select a button which says 'Register here to visit this farm,' fill out a few details and you will be emailed the farm address.