Current Trials

NARF Flood Recovery Update 23 March (Day 31)

    Approximately 30% of the NARF farm is still out of the round at present due to pasture death from flooding Regrassing is well underway and seedlings are beginning to emerge Army caterpillar population has exploded and the whole farm is covered in adult caterpillars. We are in the […]

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NARF Flood Recovery Update 10 March (day 23)

Future Dairy Farm Systems Project – NARF (Dargaville) This project is funded by DairyNZ, MPI (Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures) and Hine Rangi Trust. The NARF farm has been significantly affected with flood damage from cyclone Gabrielle. Below is commentary on the flood impact and management we have taken to […]

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NARF Flood Recovery Update 24 Feb (day 5)

  The NARF farm has been significantly affected by flooding from cyclone Gabrielle. Below is some commentary on the flood impact and management steps we have taken to minimise the impact on the farms and the research project.       SITUATION & CURRENT MANAGEMENT Almost 90% of the farm […]

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Future Farm Systems Financial Results Yr 1

  Full results of the first year of our trial are now available Current Farm and Alternative Pastures farm have similar production and profit, but both take a large hit on the Low Emissions farm. Future Farm Systems Yr 1 Results June22

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Pasture Regrassing Plan 2022

Future Farming Systems Project Introduction of Alternative Pastures at NARF – 2022 Sowing Plan Updated 15th March 2022   Background The establishment of fescue/cocksfoot pastures that were sown in 2021 was disappointing on the Alternative Pastures farm, with most of these paddocks showing low sown grass presence. Competition from poa […]

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2022 Online Conference Presentations

The following presenters were all asked how the global climate and economic situation is impacting our markets and what this means for NZ farmers going forward. Click on the three excellent presentations below to hear their different perspectives   Fonterra Chairman Peter McBride and Director Andy MacFarlane (23rd Feb)  […]

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Future Farming Systems All Fortnightly Updates

    This page contains the fortnightly information updates for each farm, including management decisions made by the farm committee every two weeks. Visitors are welcome to the management meetings every second Thursday. Email info@nddt.nz for more details      

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Future Farming Systems Trial Outline

  This is an exciting new 4 year farm systems trial starting 1 June 2021, comparing three farm systems that adapt to or mitigate climate change effects. Farmers are frustrated at poor performance of ryegrass in warm dry conditions and are increasingly looking at pasture species that may be more […]

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