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Sustainability is a fashionable word that is often heard these days…and in connection with many things. These include sustainable farming, sustainable forests, sustainable fisheries, sustainable cities, sustainable buildings, sustainable living, the list goes on. Often the concept of sustainable is associated with ideas of environmentalism or being “green” however it is much broader and includes economic as well as social aspects. Simply, it is the capacity to endure from generation to generation. Sometimes the environmental sustainability of our farming practices is questioned with the perception, by some, that New Zealand agriculture is not sustainable. Sustainability has of necessity often included change. History tells us that some earlier civilizations died out because they were not able to adapt to their changing environment.
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So what has sustainability got to do with deer farming? Figures released at the New Zealand Deer Industry’s 2010 national conference in Napier indicate that deer enterprises generate better returns than most other pastoral farming enterprises. Not only have these returns been achieved in the last 4 years but the prospects for deer looking forward also appear sound. We are not trying to compete in the commodity market of low cost proteins. New Zealand deer farmers are in the enviable position of producing a quality product, venison, for a discerning customer.
In 2008 Graham Brown (Cervena Chef) along with Puketira Deer had the opportunity to represent the New Zealand deer industry at the International Star Chef’s conference in New York. The theme of the conference was sustainable food. As part of the conference, a panel discussion considered the merits of “buying local” versus New Zealand product. Fearing the worst and expecting to be set up for a food miles debate stacked very much against them this kiwi trio found instead that the consumers of New Zealand venison appreciated the fact that our product in essentially “range fed” as opposed to “feedlot raised”. Many struggled to comprehend that we could produce a prime animal without the addition of “corn” and other additives so prevalent in the feedlot systems used in America. The impression we gained is that America has cheap food but in the minds of many it is not necessarily “safe food”. The “naturalness” of our production systems and the “safety” of our food rated very highly in the minds of the audience and the distance to market was of no consequence.
New Zealand deer farmers have a great story to tell their customers about taking an introduced animal that was a pest, out of the mountains and the bush and successfully incorporating these animals into our pastoral farming systems. Not only are we able to supply the world with some of the finest quality tender meat that diners have experienced but the natural environment of New Zealand has been enhanced as a consequence.
But what about on farm, how does the story look? Every year a number of farmers enter the Ballance Farm Environmental Awards, and a lesser number, the Deer Industry Environmental Awards. These people allow a panel of judges from various backgrounds including Fish & Game, Land Care groups and the like to come onto their properties and observe their farming practices. These farmers that participate are to be commended for the leadership role they play in showcasing New Zealand agriculture. They set the benchmark for all New Zealand deer farmers to aspire to. They are also the farmers that the market will look to with confidence around the safety and sustainability of their food.
In 2008 Graham Brown (Cervena Chef) along with Puketira Deer had the opportunity to represent the New Zealand deer industry at the International Star Chef’s conference in New York. The theme of the conference was sustainable food. As part of the conference, a panel discussion considered the merits of “buying local” versus New Zealand product. Fearing the worst and expecting to be set up for a food miles debate stacked very much against them this kiwi trio found instead that the consumers of New Zealand venison appreciated the fact that our product in essentially “range fed” as opposed to “feedlot raised”. Many struggled to comprehend that we could produce a prime animal without the addition of “corn” and other additives so prevalent in the feedlot systems used in America. The impression we gained is that America has cheap food but in the minds of many it is not necessarily “safe food”. The “naturalness” of our production systems and the “safety” of our food rated very highly in the minds of the audience and the distance to market was of no consequence.
New Zealand deer farmers have a great story to tell their customers about taking an introduced animal that was a pest, out of the mountains and the bush and successfully incorporating these animals into our pastoral farming systems. Not only are we able to supply the world with some of the finest quality tender meat that diners have experienced but the natural environment of New Zealand has been enhanced as a consequence.
But what about on farm, how does the story look? Every year a number of farmers enter the Ballance Farm Environmental Awards, and a lesser number, the Deer Industry Environmental Awards. These people allow a panel of judges from various backgrounds including Fish & Game, Land Care groups and the like to come onto their properties and observe their farming practices. These farmers that participate are to be commended for the leadership role they play in showcasing New Zealand agriculture. They set the benchmark for all New Zealand deer farmers to aspire to. They are also the farmers that the market will look to with confidence around the safety and sustainability of their food.
Before environmental compliance became mandatory we had received 3 environmental awards:
· 2007 Ballance Farm Environmental Awards – Water Efficiency Award.
· 2008 NZ Deer Industry Environmental Award – for Excellence, Innovation and Vision in a Demanding Environment.
· 2012 NZ Deer Industry Environmental Award - for Total commitment to farming sustainably with a strong customer focus.
In January 2014 Environment Canterbury introduced a Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) aiming to provide a clear direction on how land and water are to be managed to deliver community aspirations for water quality in both urban and rural areas.
Puketira Deer is subject to two subsections of this plan as our property lies across 2 catchments.
i) The majority of the property is subject to the Hurunui – Waiau River Regional Plan. Nitrogen and phosphate loss to ground water is not allowed to increase by 10% over current levels without a resource consent, and if certain thresholds are exceeded in the Hurunui River then no further increase is permitted.
ii) The back of the property feeds into the Waipara River – a Red Zone where water quality outcomes are not acceptable. Nitrogen loss to groundwater is not allowed to exceed 10kg/ha.
We have run the “Overseer” nutrient budgeting model on our property. This indicates that our current Nitrogen loss is 6kg/ha and Phosphate 0.1kg/ha.
From a water quality perspective we have fenced off most of a stream that feeds into the Waipara catchment and have a wetland area which is intended to catch sediment runoff. One of the main environmental consequences of deer farming is erosion leading to sediment runoff (a major source of phosphate loss).
Wind erosion would be our greatest environmental risk and we aim to keep cover on the paddocks and minimise soil disturbance wherever possible to reduce the risk of loss of top soil by the strong winds we experience.
We continue to plant areas of the farm with a mixture of trees and shrubs for biodiversity - but primarily for aesthetic reasons (We like trees!).
Future consideration is being given to planting “Trees for Bees” – to provide a habitat and food source for bees – vital for pollination of the clover that provides nitrogen fixation.
· 2007 Ballance Farm Environmental Awards – Water Efficiency Award.
· 2008 NZ Deer Industry Environmental Award – for Excellence, Innovation and Vision in a Demanding Environment.
· 2012 NZ Deer Industry Environmental Award - for Total commitment to farming sustainably with a strong customer focus.
In January 2014 Environment Canterbury introduced a Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) aiming to provide a clear direction on how land and water are to be managed to deliver community aspirations for water quality in both urban and rural areas.
Puketira Deer is subject to two subsections of this plan as our property lies across 2 catchments.
i) The majority of the property is subject to the Hurunui – Waiau River Regional Plan. Nitrogen and phosphate loss to ground water is not allowed to increase by 10% over current levels without a resource consent, and if certain thresholds are exceeded in the Hurunui River then no further increase is permitted.
ii) The back of the property feeds into the Waipara River – a Red Zone where water quality outcomes are not acceptable. Nitrogen loss to groundwater is not allowed to exceed 10kg/ha.
We have run the “Overseer” nutrient budgeting model on our property. This indicates that our current Nitrogen loss is 6kg/ha and Phosphate 0.1kg/ha.
From a water quality perspective we have fenced off most of a stream that feeds into the Waipara catchment and have a wetland area which is intended to catch sediment runoff. One of the main environmental consequences of deer farming is erosion leading to sediment runoff (a major source of phosphate loss).
Wind erosion would be our greatest environmental risk and we aim to keep cover on the paddocks and minimise soil disturbance wherever possible to reduce the risk of loss of top soil by the strong winds we experience.
We continue to plant areas of the farm with a mixture of trees and shrubs for biodiversity - but primarily for aesthetic reasons (We like trees!).
Future consideration is being given to planting “Trees for Bees” – to provide a habitat and food source for bees – vital for pollination of the clover that provides nitrogen fixation.