DAIRY FARMS IN TRANSITION: PAIRED FARM STUDY IN NEW ZEALAND

A. Neil Macgregor and Alan S. Palmer
Massey University

In 1993 there was published in Science a comparison of the soil quality and financial performance of seven paired biodynamic and conventional farms in New Zealand (Science (1993) vol. 260, 344-349). It is still popularly referred to as the Reganold report, in recognition of the senior author, John Reganold of Washington State University, who took a year’s study leave to join us at Massey University in order to coordinate this bench-mark farm survey.

The present study developed out of the earlier Reganold report, and the following is a brief introduction to the major reasons, which enabled the present study to be undertaken. Not only is it intended to spell out some of the original queries made about organic conversions, but also to serve as part background to a presentation on the topic of research at the forthcoming conference Organics 2020 to be held at Unitec in Auckland, on May 19 and 20, this year. On the Saturday of this conference there is a strong possibility of there being an opportunity to present some results of this paired-farm project during the Farming Focus session.

Paired-farm project

Background

As stated, the present study of dairy farms in organic transition has its origins in the earlier published study commonly known as the Reganold Report. In that study, involving comparisons of seven-paired farm systems in New Zealand, long established biodynamic farms were the main features. Whatever the conclusions and value of that study were at that time, they did little however to identify physical and biological changes that take place when farm systems enter the transition stage from conventional management in order to achieve organic (certified) status.

Since some understanding of those changes are likely to be crucial in making decisions to undergo organic farm conversion, it was decided, if it could be arranged, to monitor key farm activities on dairy farms just starting out to achieve full Demeter certification. Measurements of these activities were to be compared in real time and geographic location with paired conventional dairy farms operating on the identical soil type, so that any measurable differences would necessarily be the result of actual differences in management methods. That was the intention.

We are grateful to have gained the support of the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, not only in the form of extremely helpful farmer collaboration, but also importantly the forward thinking of Gareth Bodle, himself a biodynamic dairy farmer. Who, on behalf of his Association, sought and was finally able to secure essential though quite modest research funding from the Pacific Development and Conservation Trust. An overview of the research findings were first presented to BDFGA-members at their AGM in Havelock North in June of 1999.

What was measured?

Five different categories of measurement of farm activities were made over the next eighteen months. Some were made by usual laboratory analyses, particularly for soil chemistry and gut parasite estimations. Some were based on dairy company receipts, some on liver biopsy analyses for micronutrients. But most significantly for us, some of the regular farm measurements were made by the farm owners/managers themselves, such as rainfall and soil temperature, fresh herbage yields from pasture cages, and myriads of seemingly trivial activities that were recorded in each farm’s diary over the project’s duration.

Preview of some results.

The five measurement categories are: pasture production, soil analyses, milk production, animal health and reproduction, and climate data. Comprehensive results and findings of the report will be based on measurements made in all of these categories.

Within the first twelve months the apparent capacity of transition pastures to at least equal pasture production of their paired conventional pastures, was already indicating it was likely to be a valuable comparison.

Some fourteen soil analyses were made, ranging from usual chemical analyses, to the not-so-usual biological analyses covering microbial respiration and earthworm numbers.

Even within the first twelve-month period, levels of plant available soil calcium and magnesium on both transition farms appeared to be greater than their paired conventional farm counterparts.

Based on liver-biopsy analyses of culled animals, liver levels of copper, selenium, and cobalt in animals from transition farms equaled or exceeded those from animals of their paired conventional farm counterparts.

A comprehensive account of the research undertaken and results obtained from the eighteen-month study is being prepared for the next issue of Harvests.