Sustainability paying off

Mike and Madeline Moss on their organic dairy farm.

As a certified organic farmer, Mike Moss of Waitetuna Valley near Raglan, received $9.20 per kg for his milk this year, twice as much as conventional farmers.

Speaking at the Uretara Estuary Managers annual meeting, Mike said that for him farm sustainability was even more important than organic certification.

"Farmers must look at the big picture. Not sustainable in five years or 10 years, but will my farm be sustainable in 200 years?"

Mike took over the farm from his parents who used conventional farming methods. The move towards sustainability came with willow removal and fencing and planting of stream banks with natives by Whaingaroa (Raglan) Harbour Care. He continued the riparian restoration and now has 14km of stream banks fenced and planted as well as 9ha of wetlands retired and shaded. Additionally he has planted trees along fence lines and in paddocks to provide shade.

"All this planting does a fantastic job of absorbing rainfall and preventing loss of nutrients," he said.

His farm is small - 180ha - with difficult terrain: he milks only 120 cows and has replacement young stock, 40 dairy beef cattle and 150 ewes plus replacements yet he can afford to employ a fulltime worker.

"With no drain cleaning required I am saving $4000 to $5000 a year," he said.

"In the past three years I have treated only one metabolic cow and she has since been culled. Facial eczema is virtually a thing of the past. In the autumn when conditions are challenging I cut and carry flax and shelter trimmings. The flax has proved so beneficial for stock health I am now planting it in the corners of paddocks and making it available to stock as required. Stock control is easier and stock losses are minimal."

As his farming methods have become better known, he has begun to diversify to augment his income. He now gets his lambs and beef cows killed and the meat packed in individual packs under his brand name 'The naked dairy'.

He cannot meet the demand from restaurants and retail outlets. He sells raw milk from the farm, meeting the high standards required by the MPI.

Many individuals and groups, including school parties, visit his farm. More recently tourist groups are coming.

"Next weekend I am having 50 Chinese students coming at $15 a head," he said.

"We are living the dream. We have low stress farming in a beautiful environment. Farmers are stewards of the land. Good water and soil management will ensure that we have both profitable farming and clean waterways.

"New Zealand can be the food basket of the world," he said, "but we have to walk the talk."