Level 3 Evaluation

Using the information gathered in Level 1 and 2, Level 3 of the LEP Toolkit was used to take an even more in depth look at the farm and its resources this time with the input from experts e.g. land managers, fertiliser representatives, LUC mapping etc.

Steps 1 & 2 - Prepare property and locate land and environmental priorities

Similar to the steps taken in Level 2, an aerial photograph of the farm and a copy of the farm paddock map were used along with a map for the nutrient management blocks for the farm sourced from Ravensdown fertiliser representative for the farm to help map the farm LMU’s.

Step 3 – Map the land resource

The mapping exercise started with defining the major units by using the paddocks as a rough guideline along with obvious differences in topography and vegetation. Soil profiles roughly for each unit at locations where the units had changed according to topography, slope, vegetation and colour.

The findings for step 4 are located in the WFP produced for Springvale Station found in Appendix 1. A summary of the findings of each of the five steps (Steps 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) is found below.

Step 4 - Identification and allocation of the LUC units

From the Land Resource Inventory (LRI) and LUC mapping, 16 LUC units were identified and described in the WFP (Section 3.2- 3.3); along with the five LRI factors (rock type, soil unit, slope class, erosion type and severity, and vegetation). From the assessment the farm’s soil is derived largely from volcanic parent rocks (tephra) with areas close to the Rangitikei from alluvium (floodplain, gravels). The majority of the farm (60%) was located on land with a >20° and classified as rolling, hilly or steep, with some areas (class VIII) > 35°. There was negligible risk of erosion across the majority of the farm. However certain areas (class VIe, VIIe, VIIIe) that had a slight risk of gully, streambank or sheet erosion occurring or had erosion already present. The major vegetation cover of the farm was under pasture (approximately 1,650 ha), with pockets of forestry (15 ha), bush/scrub (120ha) and wetlands (45ha).

Step 5 - SWOT analysis of each LUC unit

An assessment of the strengths and weaknesses was carried out for each LUC unit, along with major features of the LRI (Section 3.4). From this analysis there was a large amount (approximately 60%) of the farm located on fertile free-draining soil with an accessible slope and so is able to be used for cultivation. The rest of the farm was a mixture of steep slopes, forestry blocks, wetlands or subject to cooler weather, with the most common limitations being a colder climate and prone to erosion.

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Step 6 – Nutrient budgeting

The current soil tests, herbage analysis produced for the whole farm indicate that the farm has a range of fertility levels but are generally within the range for optimal pasture production (Olsen P levels 17-23, optimum pH 5.8-6.0). However, according to the soil tests, an application of 16 kg P/ha across the farm is required to maintain the current stocking rate 10.2 SU/ha. The nutrient budget produced for each management block and the whole farm indicates that 8kg N/year is lost through leaching from the whole farm, and Olsen P is decreasing on Plateau and Middle Hills blocks (1 unit /year) (Section 2.3). Potassium and magnesium units are also predicted to decrease, with Middle Hills block expected to decrease the most (<1 unit/year K and <4 unit/year Mg). Future nutrient management suggests that the farmer redefine the management blocks into groups of the LUC units identified that have similar soils, aspects and stock rate (Section 2.5-2.6)

Step 7 - Estimated of the pastoral yield gap

The total annual dry matter production is 8,300 kg DM/ha (Step 5 - Level 2), based on a stocking rate of 29,857 stock unit equivalents and 60-70% pasture utilisation. Through altering farm management techniques, further subdivision and strategic N fertiliser applications, the potential yield gain for Springvale Station is estimated to have a potential yield of 8,900 kg DM/ha/yr at 1,700 SU or 0.6 SU/ha (Section 2.7).

Step 8 – Recommended environmental works and monitoring programme

Over the next five years, the WFP recommended several changes to the management of the Springvale station (Section 4.0 - 4.9). These included an investment in 5,150m of riparian fencing, a further 1,250m of fencing for the retirement of 137.6ha low productive land and 1,155m for retirement 10.7ha of wetland area, and planting 300 poplar poles and willow trees for erosion management (Table 4.6).

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Table 4.6 Environmental works and monitoring programme recommended for the Springvale

farm over the next five years. Environmental

issue Area/Location

Recommended works and

monitoring programme Priority

Retired land

137.6ha

-Fence off 1,250 and retire (erosion prone, lower production) land (137.6ha)

-Plant 1,000 spaced poplar poles

2

Soil erosion

(slump) LUC VIe3

-Plant 125 poplar and willow poles

over the next 5 years 1

Gully erosion Gully on

farm -Plant 3,500 poles in affected areas 2

Surface erosion Hill country

-Maintain vegetation cover through grazing management

-Maintain soil fertility

3

Soil erosion

Critical source areas (CSA)

-Fence off waterways

-Cease P fertiliser input on high Olsen P paddocks (>30) 1 Riparian management (streambank erosion) 21.6 ha

-Fence off 5,150 metres Rangitikei River boundary and streambanks with protective fencing

-Restrict stock access

1

Wetland 10.7ha

-Retire, fence off 1,155m and plant up 10.7 ha of wetland area across the farm 1 Soil nutrient imbalance Most of the farm (all pastoral LUC)

-Monitor and apply fertiliser so P, K, S, Mg deficiencies are addressed -Improve stock grazing rotation

2

Over cultivation of flats

All pastoral LUC units

- Restrict cultivation to occur only at correct soil moisture levels and use minimum tillage techniques

3

Soil pugging , wet soils

All pastoral LUC units

-Restrict cattle winter grazing -Monitor using visual soils assessment as a guide (VSA)

2

Weeds

Main access ways, across farm

-Monitor and manage invasive weeds

(thistle and broom) 3

Shade and shelter

Across the farm, hill

country

-Soil conservation planting for the

next 5 years 2