With calving in full swing, lambing upon us and spring just around the corner the key focus across the region has been setting up for a good season ahead.
With weather challenges always on the horizon, and memories of last spring’s big blow as a wake-up call, several Groups around the region hosted resilience workshops. There were some great takeaways as people worked through their key business risks and the opportunity to reduce impacts from weather and natural disaster events.
Over the last year, Groups have been coming up with great ideas that will be ramping up over the coming months. The Thriving Southland team are looking forward to turning these turn these ideas into more great projects.
We hope you enjoy the newsletter!
From the Board – Jeff Grant, Thriving Southland Chair
Current commodity prices indicate strong demand heading into the next season. Two of the key drivers are 1. that importers are seeking greater security of supply, particularly in countries that do not produce enough product domestically, and 2. that historical just-in-time delivery systems are no longer as reliable as they were before COVID-19.
International markets also remain disrupted by the two ongoing wars, which has further increased supply-chain risk since the pandemic.
These constraints can reduce buyers’ discretion and encourage importers to place less emphasis on sustainably produced product, instead prioritising supply from wherever it is available. As a result, the environmental and climate mitigation programmes of exporting countries may temporarily move into the background.
However, they are likely to become important again once supply exceeds demand and security of supply improves. I believe recognition of farmer efforts, particularly through catchment groups, will become an integral part of future supply stories. The ongoing improvements being made through these groups will play an important role in demonstrating that New Zealand agriculture is performing better than many of its competitors.
News
Westpac Water Care Grant Winners Announced
This year we had four applications submitted to this fund this year from Lower Oreti, Greater Dipton, Otama and Hedgehope Makarewa Catchment Groups covering everything from creating an animal pest trap library, restoring Kowhai Reach, sediment reduction mitigations, and possum control.
The Westpac Water Care Project is an annual opportunity where seven community-led catchment projects from around Aotearoa receive $10,000 to support practical restoration projects in their local waterways. The Westpac Watercare Team said that there was an exceptional level of quality applications this year, with amazing work being done across New Zealand. The lucky winner of the Southland funding was ...drumroll... Greater Dipton with Kowhai Reach restoration!
Kowhai Reach is a special area of rare, meandering riparian forest and an ancient kōwhai trees (some over 400 years old) on the Winton Stream at Kauna in Central Southland. It is a community-led restoration project with strong support from local landowners, QEII covenantors, QEII National Trust, Limehills School, Southland District Council and the local Catchment Groups and many more.
Congratulations to all four entrants. It was an amazing range of projects from our region, and the Thriving Southland Catchment Coordinators will now work with the other three Groups to find funding to make their projects happen. Many thanks to Westpac and the NZ Landcare Trust for this great funding opportunity.
New look website
At Thriving Southland, we have a strong focus on showcasing the amazing work of the Catchment Groups, their projects and research. To that end, our website is an important place to share all the stories, project information and so much more.
We’ve recently done some work to make it even easier to use and to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Pop on and spend a few minutes having a look; check out your Catchment Group page, some of the great projects and our news and events.
Podcast Alert! Episode 20 – Tech on Farm
What if the right technology could save you hours, reduce the workload on your team, and help you make better decisions on farm? Host, Sarah Thorne, chats with farmers Nick Wadworth and Craig Steenson about the practical tech they’re using every day to make farming more efficient.
From drones, cow collars and automated drafting to farm apps, shared calendars, Starlink, AI and even building their own systems, Nick and Craig share what’s working on their farms. They also talk honestly about the challenges of getting staff on board, choosing technology that earns its keep, and why good farming knowledge still needs to come first.
If you’ve been wondering whether a new piece of tech could make life easier on your farm, have a listen and pick up an idea you can put into practice.
Funding opportunities
WWF New Zealand Conservation Fund
The Community Conservation Fund supports innovative initiatives that create long-term positive impact for people and the planet. Their focus is on creating an Aotearoa where we have thriving, healthy, biodiverse ecosystems and clean energy that supports climate resilience, and sustains future generations.
The Community Conservation Fund gives preference to projects that:
Are community driven, involve local communities, bring people together for shared conservation initiatives
Engage and educate children/young people through action-based projects
Encourage others to learn through experience and participation
Have relationships with hapū /iwi and promote mātauranga Māori and indigenous knowledge
Restore native habitats, especially those with threatened indigenous species
Make meaningful contributions to improving connections to local environment
Promote others to gain skills and are encouraged and/or supported to take future action for the environment because of participating
For more information on eligibility and funding priorities click here. The fund closes on 15 September.
Jenkins Foundation funding community initiatives
The Jenkins Foundation was created in 2020 to assist in funding a wide range of community focused initiatives that will provide long term benefits to our society, including global warming, conservation, education, the Arts, our society and public amenities. Projects must be community led and controlled. For more information click here.
Edendale Aquifer Group celebrates results
The Edendale Aquifer Group recently brought the community together to celebrate what they’ve been working on over the past two years. It was a great chance to share the progress made across the catchment, including the nitrate prioritisation tool, two pilot wetlands and farm systems case studies.
The Group also held a session with local dairy consultants, helping to connect the work and tools developed through the project with those working directly alongside farmers. It was a positive way to celebrate the work done so far, reconnect with people across the catchment and start thinking about where the Group can take the project next.
South Coast Resilience Workshop well attended
The South Coast Catchment Group hosted a Resilience Workshop in Tokanui, bringing together members from the South Coast, Waikawa and Titiroa Catchment Groups to learn how they can prepare for emergencies and support their farms and families.
Madi Loudon and Tom Rae from Emergency Management Southland took the group through an AF8 (Alpine Fault magnitude 8 earthquake) scenario, highlighting the importance of being prepared to leave home and be self-sufficient for an extended period.
Carmen Andrews from MPI’s On-Farm Support team shared lessons from last year’s windstorm, including the importance of farmers asking for help when they need it.
Key takeaways included making sure the whole farm team knows the emergency plan, knowing how to operate essential equipment like generators, and having an emergency grab bag ready.
Getting ready for spring!
This was a really hands-on session for the Mid Oreti Mini Forest Movement drop-in session this month. We prepared and set up Rata cuttings in their trays, nipped and sowed two trays of Kowhai seeds, prepared and sowed sticky Pittosporum seed, and potted a variety of natives, including a tub of Marbleleafs as part of our trail trial. Brad from AB Lime was an excellent teacher, and lots of skills were shared and practised.
Waikaia farmers getting ahead with farm planning workshop
This personalised workshop was designed by the Waikaia Catchment Group in conjunction with Ballance Agri-Nutrients, to support farmers with the QCONZ farm planning tool. The workshop helped attendees complete their plans, with staff from Environment Southland’s Farm Plan team and Kieran McNaught from Ballance available to help. It was great opportunity to get all the experts in the room and enabled these Waikaia farmers to get ahead of the game!
Alsco Wetland Planting Fun and BBQ
Lower Oreti Catchment Group had a brilliant planting morning with the Alsco Uniforms NZ Invercargill crew this month. It was a real team effort full of family and fun. We planted 236 natives at Luke and Gavin MacPherson’s new wetland followed by an extremely delicious BBQ lunch and chocolate cake.
Supporting local projects like this is an annual event for the Invercargill Alsco team, and along with their time, they very generously gave the Group some funding to put towards the plants, three eDNA kits and an AT220 animal pest trap to start their animal pest library.
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who made it such a fun morning, especially our amazing hosts the MacPherson Family (Terri’s chocolate cake was very yummy), Rob Bird from Environment Southland, Christina from the Sustainable Business Network who helped make it all happen, and the great team from Alsco Invercargill and the Lower Ōreti Catchment Group.
Upcoming Events
Mini Forest Movement Native Plant Nursery drop-in session
When: First Tuesday of every month, from 4pm to 6pm
All welcome to come to our monthly native plant growing working-bee evenings at the AB Lime Nursery. Your help will go toward growing plants for the Mid Ōreti Mini Forest Movement Project, which provides native plants to the local community and landowners for their planting projects. Training is provided and all ages welcome! Stay for as little or as long as you like.
Edendale Aquifer Group Quarterly Water Quality Testing
When: 18 September, 12-1pm
Where: Seaward Downs Hall
Edendale Aquifer Group have shifted from monthly to quarterly testing of their water quality testing (for nitrates). Come along and have your water sample tested. Bring your sample in a glass jar.
Have a great September,
Ngā mihi, Richard Kyte
(Thriving Southland Project Lead)
and the Thriving Southland Team
