Nuffield scholars set to present findings

Seven recipients of $35,000 Nuffield farming scholarships will present their findings at a four-day conference to be staged in Gisborne from May 13.

Nuffield trust chairman Stuart Wright said the biennial conference will mark the 60th year of the scholarships.

"A thirst for knowledge and absolute enthusiasm for the agricultural industry are ... driving New Zealand's Nuffield scholars," he said.

The research papers will be delivered for the first time at a marae, Rukupo, the Maori Battalion marae at Manutuke, on the outskirts of Gisborne.

The presentations from the current scholars will be attended by more than 110 present and past scholars.

The marae is in the home town of one of the scholars, Gregg Pardoe, operations manager for Maori farming incorporation Arai Matawai in Gisborne, who studied how indigenous peoples in the United States have adapted to modern farming practices.

"Land ownership is still a big issue for a number of indigenous peoples, claiming ownership and trying to prove ownership," he said.

Mandi McLeod, a Te Awamutu agri-business consultant with stakes in a dairy farm in Morrinsville and a King Country sheep and beef farm, said her research highlighted the importance of business succession planning.

"People need to move away from seeing succession planning as the transfer of the farm assets."

Alec Jack, of Northland, has researched a trademark beef brand as well as rural tourism options for his farm, and said he found environmental, animal welfare and ethical issues were important in adding value to beef.

"My great fear is that the profitability of sheep and beef farms is so low it's going to be a huge struggle for farmers to meet environmental aspirations of New Zealand and (overseas) consumers," said Mr Jack. "You can have all the science in the world, but if the consumer doesn't go for it, it's no use".

Methven farmer Craige Mackenzie researched carbon footprints and set up his own business to make precision agriculture - using satellite-based measurements - as a tool for improved sustainability.

"Precision agriculture will be our quickest way forward in improving farming's sustainability and could provide us with the next agricultural revolution," he said.

A lot of good science had not been taken up by farmers.

Northland hill country farmers James Parsons, a director of the nation's meat industry board, said he investigated supply chain relationships and value chain design in the red meat and wool sector, and found the challenge was for farmers to capture efficiencies.

"I don't think we've progressed at all in terms of our ability to capture the value," he said. "The tragedy is, unless the meat industry undergoes a significant structural shift we will trade all these efficiencies away, in the same way we traded away our production efficiency gains of the past 25 years".

Ali Undorf-Lay sought ways to bridge the urban-rural divide, and has managed Federated Farmers' open days this year and last year.

"The challenge now will be to ensure that farmers don't undervalue the power of personal story and are willing to ... talk about their farming practices," she said.

Queenstown businessman Les Keeper - who has three Southland dairy farms, a grain and grazing farm at Christchurch and other property investments - travelled to South America, Australia and Europe searching for ways to boost profits from milk.

"There is a definite connection between raw milk, processing and ingredients, but not consumer products," he said. "New Zealand's only competitive advantage is it has the raw product".